Identification of key genes in sheep fat tail evolution Based on RNA-seq

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Sheep Domestication

Background:

• The fat tail is a significant domesticated trait in sheep, but its underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown.
• Understanding fat tail development is crucial for sheep breeding and evolutionary studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with the fat tail characteristic in sheep.
• To identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in fat deposition between fat-tailed and small-tailed sheep breeds.

Main Methods:

• Histological analysis of tail and subcutaneous fat tissues.
• RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to identify DEGs in tail fat.
• Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to validate gene expression profiles.

Main Results:

• Bashby sheep exhibited significantly larger tail and subcutaneous fat cells compared to F2 hybrids.
• RNA-seq identified 873 DEGs in tail fat between Bashby and F2 sheep.
• Specific genes (SCD, PHYH, GPAM) showed lower expression in F2 sheep tail fat, while ESR1 and EMR1 showed reversed expression patterns compared to Bashby sheep.

Conclusions:

• The study identified key genes and molecular pathways contributing to the fat tail phenotype in sheep.
• Findings provide valuable insights into the genetic basis of fat tail development and sheep evolutionary history.