Tissue-specific expression and functional role of keratin 1 in sheep horn development.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Sheep horn development has significant implications for animal welfare and farm management, yet its molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Keratin 1 (KRT1), a key structural protein in epidermal keratinization, has been implicated in horn formation. This study systematically investigates the expression patterns, genetic variations, and functional role of KRT1 in sheep horn development.

Methods

We integrated RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data from Tibetan sheep and public databases. Multi-tissue expression profiling of KRT1 was performed across sheep, cattle, pigs, and humans. Phylogenetic and protein structural analyses identified conserved amino acid sites. Allele-specific expression (ASE) loci and functional SNPs were

SUBMITTER: Mei Q 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12745648 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature