Deciphering the Regulatory Network of Tail Fat Deposition in Large- and Small-Tailed Han Sheep Through Transcriptome...

Area of Science:

• Animal genetics
• Molecular biology
• Lipid metabolism

Background:

• Tail fat deposition is a key adaptive trait in sheep.
• Large-tailed Han (LTH) and Small-tailed Han (STH) breeds show significant differences in tail fat storage.
• These breeds provide a valuable model for studying lipid metabolism regulation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying tail fat deposition differences in LTH and STH sheep.
• To identify key genes and microRNAs involved in lipid metabolism pathways.
• To construct regulatory networks of microRNA-mRNA interactions.

Main Methods:

• Integrated small RNA sequencing (sRNA-Seq) and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) analyses.
• Differential gene and microRNA expression profiling.
• Bioinformatic analysis to identify enriched pathways and construct regulatory networks.

Main Results:

• Identified 521 differentially expressed genes and 144 differentially expressed microRNAs.
• Enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement in fatty acid metabolism and PPAR signaling pathways.
• Highlighted candidate genes (ADIRF, LPL, ACSL5) and constructed 23 miRNA-mRNA networks, including complex 'many-to-one' interactions.

Conclusions:

• This study elucidates the complex genetic network governing tail fat deposition in sheep.
• Identified potential candidate genes and microRNAs for modulating lipid metabolism.
• Provides a foundation for future functional validation studies to understand causal mechanisms.