Project description:In this study, we selected differentially expressed miRNAs through construcing and analyzing the miRNA expression profile during 2-, 6-, and 12- month-old Small Tail Han Sheep ovaries, which provided a theoretical basis for the study of miRNAs regulating the reproduction of Small Tail Han Sheep. RNASeq techniques were used to perform profile analysis for these ovaries. The results showed that 11, 13 and 19 DE miRNAs were identified in 2- vs 6-, 6- vs 12-, and 2- vs 12-month-old ovaries, respectively. In total, 54, 37, and 198 predicted target genes of DE miRNAs were obtained from these three groups, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses showed that, in 2- vs 6-month-olds, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 102 GO terms and 7 signaling pathways; in 6- vs 12-month-olds, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 52 GO terms and 3 signaling pathways; and in 2- vs 12-month-olds, the target genes of DE known sheep miRNAs were involved in 88 GO terms and 6 signaling pathways. Three miR–target regulatory networks were constructed based on these DE miRNA–targets. 9 miRNAs were selected to validate the accuracy of miRNA sequencing data by qRT-PCR. The binding sites of oar-miR-432 with RPS6KA1 was validated by a dual luciferase reporter gene detection system. This is the first integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in Small Tail Han Sheep ovarian development. These data help elucidate the molecular regulatory mechanisms in sheep ovarian development and identify the biomarkers that influence reproductive performance of Small Tail Han Sheep ewe.
Project description:We performed a genome-wide analysis of mRNAs and lncRNAs from Small Tail Han sheep of genotypes FecBBFecBB (Han BB) and FecB+ FecB+ (Han++) and from Dorset sheep (Dorset) to identify potential regulators of fecundity. An integrated analysis revealed significantly correlated patterns of expression. Dramatic changes of mRNAs and lncRNAs suggest their critical roles in sheep fecundity. This study provides a novel view of the regulatory mechanisms involved in sheep fecundity.
Project description:The semen of Small Tail Han Sheep has characteristics of high yield, high density, and good motility. To reveal the key miRNAs, mRNAs and miR-Targets regulatory mechanisms in Small Tail Han Sheep testes development, integrated analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in 2-, 6-, and 12-month-old testes were investigated by RNA-seq technology and bioinformatics methods. As the results shown: 630, 102, and 322 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs; 5, 1 and 4 DE known miRNAs; 132, 105 and 24 DE novel miRNAs were identified in 2- vs 6-month-old, 6- vs 12-month-old, and 2- vs 12-month-old testes, respectively. GO and pathway analysis showed: in 2- vs 6-month-old testes, DE mRNAs were mainly involved in sexual maturation process and the DE mRNAs were mainly involved in multiple metabolism and biosynthesis pathways; in 6- vs 12-month-old testes, DE mRNAs were mainly involved in metabolism and translation processes, and the most significant pathway that DE mRNAs involved in was ribosome pathway; in 2- vs 12-month-old testes, DE mRNAs were mainly involved in metabolism and physiological processes, and DE mRNAs were mainly involved in multiple metabolism and biosynthesis pathways. Subsequently, 76, 11 and 1 DE miR-Targets were identified in 2- vs 6-month-old, 2- vs 12-month-old, and 6- vs 12-month-old testes, respectively. 3 miR-Target regulatory networks were constructed based on these miR-Targets, which helped to elucidate the regulatory metabolism in Small Tail sheep testes development. Finally, 6 miRNAs and 7 mRNAs were selected to validate the RNA-seq data by RT-PCR.
Project description:We aimed to evaluate the transcriptome regulators associated with muscle growth and development between the Qianhua Mutton Merino (QHMM) and Small Tail Han (STH) sheep.We used RNA-Seq to obtain the transcriptome profiles of the longissimus muscle from the QHMM and STH.The genome-wide transcriptome analysis of QHMM and STH muscle in present study is reported first time.
Project description:Milk can mediate maternal-neonatal signal transmission by the bioactive component-extracellular vesicles (EVs), which select specific types of miRNA to encapsulate. The miRNA profiling of sheep milk EVs was characterized by sequencing and compared with that of cow milk. Sheep milk EVs contained various small RNAs, including tRNA, Cis-regulatory element, rRNA, snRNA, other Rfam RNA, and miRNA, which held about 36% of all the small RNAs. Totally 84 types of miRNAs were annotated with Ovis aries by miRBase (version 22.0) in sheep milk EVs, with 75 shared types of miRNAs in all samples. Fourteen sheep milk EV-miRNAs in the top 20, occupying 98% of the total expression, were immune-related.
Project description:The sheep (Ovis aries) plays a major socio-economic role in the world. Copy number variations (CNVs) are increasingly recognized as a key and potent source of genetic variation and phenotypic diversity, but little is known about the extent to which CNVs contribute to genetic variation in Chinese sheep breeds. Analyses of CNVs in the genomes of eight sheep breeds were performed using the sheep SNP50 BeadChip genotyping array. A total of 111 CNV regions (CNVRs) were obtained from 160 Chinese sheep breeds. These CNVRs covered 13.75 Mb of the sheep genome sequence. A total of 22 Go terms and 17 candidate genes were obtained from the functional analysis. Ten CNVRs were selected for validation, of which 7 CNVRs were further experimentally confirmed by quantitative PCR. Four candidate genes were selected to confirm the results of the functional analysis. These results provide a resource for furthering understanding of ruminant biology, and for further improving the genetic quality of sheep breeds.