Project description:Here, we analyzed and identified the miRNA expression profile of three different intestinal tissues (i.e., duodenum, cecum, and colon) of sheep (Ovis aries) using high-throughput sequencing and bioinformatic methods. In total, 128 known miRNAs were identified, 526 novel miRNAs were predicted, and 202 differentially expressed miRNAs were found between the different tissues. Additionally, 4,422 candidate target genes were predicted, and 185 non-redundant GO annotation terms were identified using enrichment analysis. A total of 529 target genes were found to participate in 37 KEGG biological pathways, and 270 of these genes were significantly enriched in the metabolism category.
Project description:Here we present a high-density in situ synthesized microarray for Ovis aries, named Aristaeus, designed by means of a pipeline of software instruments that, starting from non-annotated redundant EST sequences, selects oligonucleotides suitable for in situ generation on chip. The chip was tested by comparing the gene expression profiles of two sheep breeds with different phenotype, Sarda and Gentile di Puglia. We carried out microarray experiments on liver and udder tissues from lactating individuals and identified a relevant number of differentially expressed genes, all involved in metabolism pathways. The results are consistent with literature knowledge, while selected differential gene expressions have been confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses. Tissue samples of liver were collected from 4 lactating individuals of two sheep (Ovis aries) breeds, Gentile di Puglia and Sarda. Biopsies of liver tissue were taken at second lactation stage (first record, stage 01: 6 days after lambing; second record, stage 02: 44 days after lambing) in both breeds. Tissues from liver were immersed in RNAlater (Sigma) immediately after biopsy and stored at -20°C. Samples were pooled by breed and then reverse labeled (cy5 and cy3), resulting in four raw data sets.
