Transcriptome Analysis of Adipose Tissues from Five Sheep Breeds Reveals Key Genes Involved in Fat Deposition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sheep (Ovis aries) exhibit significant diversity in adipose tissue deposition, which influences meat quality, environmental adaptation, and economic value. Tail fat, in particular, varies widely among breeds, yet the transcriptomic basis of this variation remains incompletely understood. This study aims to systematically compare the transcriptional profiles of five adipose depots across five sheep breeds to identify molecular mechanisms underlying fat deposition and tail phenotype divergence.

Methods

We analyzed 250 publicly available RNA-seq samples from five adipose tissues (caul, subcutaneous, perirenal, intermuscular, and tail fat) of five sheep breeds (Altay, Tibetan, Merino, Wadi, Small-tailed Han). Data were processed using FastQC, STAR, and featureC

SUBMITTER: Yu Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12841507 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature