Transcriptome Profile Analysis of Mammary Gland Tissue from Two Breeds of Lactating Sheep.
Zhiyun Hao, Huitong Zhou, Jon G H Hickford, Hua Gong, Jiqing Wang, Jiang Hu, Xiu Liu, Shaobin Li, Mengli Zhao, Yuzhu Luo
Author Information
Zhiyun Hao: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. haozy2018@163.com.
Huitong Zhou: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. huitong.zhou@lincoln.ac.nz.
Jon G H Hickford: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. Jon.hickford@lincoln.ac.nz.
Hua Gong: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. hua.gong@lincoln.ac.nz.
Jiqing Wang: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. wangjq@gsau.edu.cn.
Jiang Hu: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. huj@gsau.edu.cn.
Xiu Liu: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. liux@gsau.edu.cn.
Shaobin Li: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. lisb@gsau.edu.cn.
Mengli Zhao: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. 18394187234@163.com.
Yuzhu Luo: Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China. luoyz@gsau.edu.cn.
The mammary gland is a crucial tissue for milk synthesis and plays a critical role in the feeding and growth of mammalian offspring. The aim of this study was to use RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology to provide a transcriptome profile of the ovine mammary gland at the peak of lactation. Small-Tailed Han (STH) Sheep ( = 9) and Gansu Alpine Merino (GAM) Sheep ( = 9), breeds with phenotypic differences in milk production traits, were selected for the RNA-Seq analysis. This revealed 74 genes that were more highly expressed in the STHs than in the GAMs. Similarly, 143 genes that were expressed at lower levels in the STHs than in the GAMs, were identified. Gene ontogeny (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with binding and catalytic activities, hematopoietic cell lineages, oxytocin signaling pathway and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction. This is the first study of the transcriptome profile of the ovine mammary gland in these Chinese breeds at peak lactation. The results provide for a better understanding of the genetic mechanisms involved in ovine lactation.
