biostudies-literatureLuo Ythe Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Provincethe Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Technology Innovation Projectthe China Agriculture Research Systemthe Science and Technology Innovation 2030-Major Program2629https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12427465biostudies-literatureUnknown15(17)Various signalling molecules and pathways critical for wool production and quality regulate wool secondary follicle (SF) development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate SF morphogenesis through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism; these novel cyclic non-coding RNAs are not known to regulate the development of SFs in the foetal period of fine-wool sheep. Here, we analysed circRNA expression profiles in the foetal skin of Gansu Alpine fine-wool sheep at 10 developmental stages (E87, E90, E93, E96, E99, E102, E105, E108, E111, and E138) using RNA sequencing. Among the differentially expressed circRNAs (DE circRNAs), 173 were significantly enriched in signalling pathways related to hair follicle (HF) development, such as Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β/Smad, Notch, and mitoAnimals : an open access journal from MDPIScreening of circRNAs Associated with Secondary Wool Follicle Development in Fine-Wool Sheep and Construction of Their ceRNA Network.PMC1242746521JR7RA0282023ZD0405101CARS-39-0225-LZIHPS-07Yuan CLiu JLu ZLuo YXi BGuo TXiao TSong YfalseScreening of circRNAs Associated with Secondary Wool Follicle Development in Fine-Wool Sheep and Construction of Their ceRNA Network.Various signalling molecules and pathways critical for wool production and quality regulate wool secondary follicle (SF) development. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) regulate SF morphogenesis through a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) mechanism; these novel cyclic non-coding RNAs are not known to regulate the development of SFs in the foetal period of fine-wool sheep. Here, we analysed circRNA expression profiles in the foetal skin of Gansu Alpine fine-wool sheep at 10 developmental stages (E87, E90, E93, E96, E99, E102, E105, E108, E111, and E138) using RNA sequencing. Among the differentially expressed circRNAs (DE circRNAs), 173 were significantly enriched in signalling pathways related to hair follicle (HF) development, such as Wnt/β-catenin, transforming growth factor-β/Smad, Notch, and mito2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Sep2026-04-08T19:11:29.696Z2026-04-08T12:02:55.165ZS-EPMC124274654094142310.3390/ani15172629