Transcriptomes of thirteen healthy feline tissue types

Area of Science:

• Genomics
• Comparative Medicine
• Feline Biology

Background:

• Domestic cats (Felis catus) are susceptible to genetic diseases, serving as models for human conditions.
• Access to healthy feline tissue for genetic studies is limited.
• Thirteen healthy feline tissue types were selected based on common disease prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To generate a comprehensive transcriptome dataset from healthy feline tissues.
• To provide a foundational resource for feline genetic disease research.
• To enhance the annotation of the domestic cat genome.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptome sequencing of 78 samples from six healthy cats.
• Utilized both mRNA-enriched and rRNA-depleted library preparation methods.
• Ensured data quality through Principal Components Analysis and comparison with human tissue expression data.

Main Results:

• High-quality transcriptome datasets were generated.
• Principal Components Analysis confirmed sample clustering by tissue type.
• Demonstrated high levels of expected tissue-specific gene expression and pathway enrichment.

Conclusions:

• The feline transcriptome dataset is publicly available for future research.
• Facilitates functional studies for feline complex diseases and genome annotation.
• Enables exploration of gene expression in disease-associated variants and environmental interactions.