Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (3): 1264-1277.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2025.03.026

• Animal Biotechnology and Reproduction • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Screening and Analysis of Core Genes and Key lncRNAs for Seasonal Estrus Traits in Sheep

YANG Yang1(), LI Liangyuan2, WAN Pengcheng1, LU Shouliang1, LIU Changbin1, YANG Hua1, WANG Limin1, DAI Rong1,*(), ZHOU Ping1,*()   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi 832000, China
    2. Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ethnical Medicine Resources, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
  • Received:2024-08-28 Online:2025-03-23 Published:2025-04-02
  • Contact: DAI Rong, ZHOU Ping E-mail:1010975408@qq.com;dairong1@163.com;zhpxqf@163.com

Abstract:

The aim of this study was to screen core genes and long non-coding RNAs related to seasonal estrus. Ovarian tissue were collected from 2 to 3 years old, non-pregnant female Chinese Merino and Hu sheep (3 sheep per group, each in anestrus, estrus and interestrus). RNA-seq technology was employed to identify differentially expressed genes and lncRNAs. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and ceRNA network construction were performed to identify core genes and lncRNAs related to reproductive performance. RNA libraries for 6 distinct physiological states were constructed. There were 1 495 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 454 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) be identified. Among these, 313 DEGs and 435 lncRNAs were common, while 1 182 DEGs and 19 lncRNAs were unique. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed that common DEGs were significantly enriched in the processes related to cell division and the cell cycle, whereas the target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs were enriched in intracellular signaling pathways and negative regulation of RNA polymerase Ⅱ promoter transcription. Unique DEGs were primarily associated with the positive regulation of cell migration. The target genes of lncRNAs were enriched in cell adhesion and integrin-mediated signaling pathways. There were 19 core genes identified by protein-protein interaction network analysis, which were predominantly enriched in oocyte meiosis and cell cycle pathways. These core genes exhibited higher expression level during the anestrus phase than those in interestrus. Further analysis of the ceRNA network highlighted the enrichment of genes in cell cycle-related signaling pathways. RT-qPCR results were consisted with the RNA-seq results. A total of 19 core genes and 28 lncRNAs were identified, along with 42 lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions, providing potential regulatory targets for understanding the molecular mechanisms of seasonal reproduction in sheep.

Key words: sheep, seasonal estrus, RNA-seq, core gene, lncRNA

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