Project description:Chinese Merino Sheep (Junken Type) is one of the fine wool sheep breeds in China, which is famous for producing fine wool. Wool quality including fibre diameter and length is the most concerned economic indicator for producers. Growth and development of secondary hair follicles (SFs) influences the wool quality. Understanding the formation mechanism of wool quality and related key proteins can help optimize and control the production of wool. However, The mechanism by which proteins mediate the development of SFs in the sheep foetus remains elusive. Here, based on the histomorphology of the SFs among four stages of foetus development (E75, E85, E95 and E105), the differential protein profiles of skin tissues were determined in three comparison pairs of foetus development (E75 versus E85, E85 versus E95, and E95 versus E105) by TMT-Based quantitative proteomics technology. With the help of proteomics technology, a total of 238, 35 and 348 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in three comparison periods, respectively. In SFs development, focal adhesion, ECM−receptor interaction and estrogen signaling pathway, etc. played important role. COL1A1, THBS3, ITGA6, COL6A1 and THBS4 were potential candidate proteins in SF initiation. Overall, this study provided valuable proteomics data on the SFs development and a prospective understanding of the molecular mechanisms for wool quality traits in fine wool sheep.
Project description:We have completed the high quality reference genome for domestic sheep (Oar v3.1) and performed a detailed survey of gene expression across different tissues. RNA-seq data of 7 tissue types from the reference female Texel and skin tissue from a Gansu alpine fine wool sheep were sequenced. Here is the part of the RNA-seq data sequenced in BGI, including 7 tissue types from the reference female Texel and skin type from a Gansu alpine fine wool sheep.
Project description:Sheep provide considerable materials for the animal fibre industry. Identifying genes of major effect for wool growth would offer strategies for improving the quality of fine wool. In this study, we employed Agilent Sheep Gene Expression Microarray and proteomic technology to investigate the gene expression patterns of body side skin between Aohan fine wool sheep and small tail Han sheep (two Chinese indigenous breed) at the anagen stage of wool follicle. Several potential gene families might participate in hair growth regulation, including fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor-β, WNTs, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factors and so on. Furthermore, according to the results at both mRNA and protein levels, similar regulation mechanism of gene activity might be engaged during skin development and embryo development.
Project description:Land cover change has long been recognized that marked effect the amount of soil organic carbon. However, little is known about microbial-mediated effect processes and mechanism on soil organic carbon. In this study, the soil samples in a degenerated succession from alpine meadow to alpine steppe meadow in Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau degenerated, were analyzed by using GeoChip functional gene arrays.
Project description:Tibetan's adaptation to high-altitude environment at the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau represents a remarkable case of natural selection during recent human evolution. We generated time series paired RNAseq, ATACseq and Hi-C data in Tibetan and Han Chinese's umbilical endothelial cells from normoxia to hypoxia condition. Our results provide a broad resource of genome-wide hypoxia regulatory network to characterize the effect of genetic variation in high-altitude adaptation, and indicates large-scale maps of variants need proper cell types to understand its act on gene regulation.
Project description:Background: Sheep are valuable resources for the animal fibre industry. Therefore, identifying genes which regulate wool growth would offer strategies for improving the quality of fine wool. In this study, we employed Agilent sheep gene expression microarray and proteomic technology to compare the gene expression patterns of the body side (hair-rich) and groin (hairless) skins of Aohan fine wool sheep (a Chinese indigenous breed). Results: Comparing the body side to the groin skins (S/G) of Aohan fine wool sheep, the microarray study revealed that 1494 probes were differentially expressed, including 602 more highly expressed and 892 less highly expressed probes. The microarray results were verified by means of quantitative PCR. Cluster analysis could distinguish the body side skin and the groin skin. Based on the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), 38 of the differentially expressed genes were classified into four categories, namely regulation of receptor binding, multicellular organismal process, protein binding and macromolecular complex. Proteomic study revealed that 187 protein spots showed significant (p < 0.05) differences in their respective expression levels. Among them, 46 protein entries were further identified by MALDI-TOF/MS analyses. Conclusions: Microarray analysis revealed thousands of differentially expressed genes, many of which were possibly associated with wool growth. Several potential gene families might participate in hair growth regulation. Proteomic analysis also indentified hundreds of differentially expressed proteins.
Project description:We have completed the high quality reference genome for domestic sheep (Oar v3.1) and performed a detailed survey of gene expression across different tissues. RNA-seq data of 7 tissue types from the reference female Texel and skin tissue from a Gansu alpine fine wool sheep were sequenced.
Project description:In this study, we performed proteomic sequencing of wool tissues from Gansu alpine fine-wool sheep of different finenesses, which were divided into two groups: the fine-wool group (Fine,F, n=4) and the superfine-wool group (Superfine,SF, n=4). The differential proteins between the two groups were screened and analysed for functional enrichment.
Project description:Sheep provide considerable materials for the animal fibre industry. Identifying genes of major effect for wool growth would offer strategies for improving the quality and increasing the yield of fine wool. In this study, we employed Agilent Sheep Gene Expression Microarray and proteomic technology to investigate the gene expression patterns of body side skin (more wool growing) in Aohan fine wool sheep (a Chinese indigenous breed) in comparison with groin skin (no wool growing) at the anagen stage of wool follicle. Microarray study revealed that 4772 probes were differentially expressed, including 2071 upregulated and 2701 downregulated probes in the comparisons of body side skin versus groin skin (S/G). The microarray results were verified by means of quantitative PCR. 1099 probes were assigned to unique genes/transcripts. The number of distinct genes/transcripts (annotated) was 926, of which 352 were up-regulated and 574 were down-regulated. In S/G, 13 genes were up-regulated by more than 10-fold, while 60 genes were down-regulated by more than 10-fold. Further analysis revealed that the majority of the genes possibly related to the wool growth could be assigned into the categories including regulation of cell division, intermediate filament, cytoskeletal part and growth factor activity. Several potential gene families might participate in hair growth regulation, including fibroblast growth factors, transforming growth factor-β, WNTs, insulin-like growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factors and so on. Proteomic analysis also got 196 differentially expressed protein points, of which 121 were identified as single protein points. Furthermore, according to the results at both mRNA and protein levels, similar regulation mechanism of gene activity might be engaged during skin development and embryo development. One ram and two ewes of 12-month-old Aohan fine wool sheep were used in the microarray study. These animals were half sibs (sharing the same father). In August 2010, two areas of full-thickness skin were sampled from the same animal under local anaesthesia: body side skin (wool bearing) and groin skin (non-wool bearing) for microarray and proteomic experiments. The area of each sample was about 1 cm2. All samples were immediately put into collection tubes and stored in liquid nitrogen for RNA and protein extraction. A total of 15, 208 probes were spotted on this Agilent Sheep Gene Expression Microarray (Santa Clara, CA, USA).
Project description:Long term-exposed to high altitude, the increased numbers of red blood cells tend to stabilize to a certain extend in most people, but someone will occur over-increasing in number of red blood cells, which cause a serious of clinical symptoms and signs, and this is high altitude polycythemia. EPO-EPOR system may be the main reasons for erythroid progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation in early exposion to plateau, but, in the late, there may be other factors involved in the regulation of erythropoiesis in bone marrow, multiple factors working together lead to excessive red blood cell proliferation. We compared gene expression profiling of leukocytes in peripheral blood from high altitude polycythemia patients with those from matched controls. Subjects consisting of 5 masculine Han Chinese patients with HAPC (diagnosed according to international consensus statement on HAPC) and 5 matched controls, were migrants at River of TUOTUO area (Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, 4550 m). Each of the five HAPC patients was matched to each of the control: gender, nationality, birthplace, duration migrating to plateau, height of location, work intensity. Peripheral blood samples were obtained at 4550m plateau from above subjects. Total RNA was extracted from peripheral blood leucocytes. The gene expression profilings were analysed by Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 Array.