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The heritability of litter size in sheep is low and controlled by multiple genes, but the research on its related genes is not sufficient. Here, to explore the expression pattern of multi-tissue genes in Chinese native sheep, we selected 10 tissues of the three adult ewes with the highest estimated breeding value in the early study of the prolific Xinggao sheep population. The global gene expression analysis showed that the ovary, uterus, and hypothalamus expressed the most genes. Using the Uniform Manifold Approximation and Projection (UMAP) cluster analysis, these samples were clustered into eight clusters. The functional enrichment analysis showed that the genes expressed in the spleen, uterus, and ovary were significantly enriched in the Ataxia Telangiectasia Mutated Protein (ATM) signaling pathway, and most genes in the liver, spleen, and ovary were enriched in the immune response pathway. Moreover, we focus on the expression genes of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis (HPO) and found that 11,016 genes were co-expressed in the three tissues, and different tissues have different functions, but the oxytocin signaling pathway was widely enriched. To further explore the differences in the expression genes (DEGs) of HPO in different sheep breeds, we downloaded the transcriptome data in the public data, and the analysis of DEGs (Xinggao sheep vs. Sunite sheep in Hypothalamus, Xinggao sheep vs. Sunite sheep in Pituitary, and Xinggao sheep vs. Suffolk sheep in Ovary) revealed the neuroactive ligand–receptor interactions. In addition, the gene subsets of the transcription factors (TFs) of DEGs were identified. The results suggest that 51 TF genes and the homeobox TF may play an important role in transcriptional variation across the HPO. Altogether, our study provided the first fundamental resource to investigate the physiological functions and regulation mechanisms in sheep. This important data contributes to improving our understanding of the reproductive biology of sheep and isolating effecting molecular markers that can be used for genetic selection in sheep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of molecular breeding largely depends on inexpensive genotyping arrays. In this study, we aimed to develop an ovine high-resolution multiple-single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) capture array, based on genotyping by target sequencing (GBTS) system with capture-in-solution (liquid chip) technology. All the markers were from 40K captured regions, including genes located within selective sweep regions, breed-specific regions, quantitative trait loci (QTL), and the potential functional SNPs on the sheep genome. The results showed that a total of 210K high-quality SNPs were identified in the 40K regions, indicating a high average capture ratio (99.7%) for the target genomic regions. Using genotyped data (n = 317) from liquid chip technology, we further performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to detect the genetic loci affecting sheep hair types and teat number. A single significant association signal for hair types was identified on 6.7-7.1 Mb of chromosome 25. The IRF2BP2 gene (chr25: 7,067,974-7,071,785), which is located within this genomic region, has been previously known to be involved in hair/wool traits in sheep. The results further showed a new candidate region around 26.4 Mb of chromosome 13, between the ARHGAP21 and KIAA1217 genes, that was significantly related to teat number in sheep. The haplotype patterns of this region also showed differences in animals with 2, 3, or 4 teats. Advances in using the high-accuracy and low-cost liquid chip are expected to accelerate sheep genomic and breeding studies in the coming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

P-element-induced wimpy testis-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are small RNAs that are essential for mammalian spermatogenesis and testicular development. Comparative analyses of the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis among different organisms are therefore dependent on accurate piRNA characterizations. In this study, we identified piRNAs in the testes of two breeds of Mongolian sheep: the Sunite (SN), which has a low reproductive rate, and Small-tailed Han (STH), which has a high reproductive rate. A thorough understanding of the mechanisms underlying the differences in fecundity between the two breeds might provide insights for the improvement of fertility and reproductive success in these and other sheep breeds. We identified 835 piRNAs and 206 piRNA clusters across the two breeds. Of these, 29 putative piRNAs were expressed in the SN samples only, and 229 putative piRNAs were expressed in the STH samples only. In addition, 206 piRNA clusters were upregulated in STH sheep as compared to the SN sheep. Functional pathway analysis indicated that the genes neighboring the predicted piRNAs were likely associated with spermatogenesis. piRNAs might thus be linked to male fecundity in sheep. Our results increase knowledge of the association between piRNAs and male fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current study, rabbit spleen was analysed at 12 h,24h,30 h,36h,and 48hpost-infection with hog cholera lapinized virus(C strain)using high-throughput sequencing. The rabbit genome was used as a reference to identify differentially expressed genes(DEGs)at different time points post-infection. The top 10 DEGs were filtered based on significance, and we searched for their biological functions through the Uniprot and NCBI databases. The former three time points have 10co-expressing genes, many of which have a relationship to immunity and inflammation. The latter two time points for the top 10 DEGs are identical, and B2 M,RLA-DR-ALPHA,CD74,and IGJ are involved in the antiviral immune response. GO functional annotation revealed that in biological processes at each time point,except for 24hpost-infection,the immune response has the most terms, followed by metabolism and regulation. According to the KEGG database, the DEGs for 24hpost-infection were enriched for the RIG-I-like receptor signaling pathway and the DEGs for 30hpost-infection were found to have a focal adhesion and ECM-receptor interaction pathway. Moreover, the DEGs for 36 hand 48hpost-infection have seven identical pathways, of which were directly or indirectly related to the antiviral response. These pathways included the proteasome, lysosome, ribosome, chemokine signaling pathways, B cell receptor signaling pathway, antigen processing, and presentation pathway, and the Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis pathway.These results provide novel insight into the gene expression in rabbit spleens post-infection with C strain, and provide a theoretical basis for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms by which rabbits adapt to infection with C strain.

The core protein (CP) of the classical swine fever virus (CSFV) is one of its structural proteins. Apart from forming the nucleocapsid to protect internal viral genomic RNA, this protein is involved in transcriptional regulation. Also, during viral infection, the CP is involved in interactions with many host proteins. In this review, we combine study of this protein with its disorders, structural/functional characteristics, as well as its interactions with the non-structural proteins NS3, NS5B and host proteins such as SUMO-1, UBC9, OS9 and IQGAP1. We also summarize the important part played by the CP in CSFV pathogenicity, virulence and replication of genomic RNA. We also provide guidelines for further studies in the CP of the CSFV.

Melatonin and microRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in regulating hair follicle development. However, the effect of melatonin on the expression pattern of miRNAs in skin and follicle of cashmere goats remain largely undefined. To explore the mechanism of melatonin affecting cashmere growth mediated by miRNAs, the effect of melatonin implants administered in Nei Mongol cashmere goats was assessed. In the experiment, five yearling does were implanted with melatonin, with the remaining other five females as control group. The expression of six candidate miRNAs was quantified by reverse transcription-real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The results indicated that melatonin significantly altered the expression pattern of miRNAs. Except for let-7a, the expression levels of miR-203, miR-205, miR-96, miR-183 and miR-199a occur three transitions during a cashmere cycle; melatonin changed the co-expression pattern of miRNAs. The correlation coefficient between miRNAs is 0.87-0.99 in control group(P<0.01). Compared with the control group, the correlation coefficient between some miRNAs (let-7a and miR-96, miR-199a, miR-205;miR-203 and miR-96, miR-199a; miR-96 and miR-183; miR-183 and miR-199a) was significantly weakened in melatonin group. Melatonin might induce second growth of cashmere mediated by down-regulating the expression level of some miRNAs in June in melatonin implanted group.