优质细毛羊羊毛细度的候选基因分析

采用PCR-SSCP的分子标记技术, 选择编码羊毛纤维组成蛋白基因中的KAP1.1、KAP1.3的部分序列、KAP6.1的外显子区作为候选基因, 通过对其多态性的研究, 探索将该基因作为候选基因来间接选择羊毛细度性状的可行性。得出其中在角蛋白辅助蛋白的多基因家族中的高硫蛋白辅助蛋白基因(KAP1.1、KAP1.3)中, 位点W08667与羊毛细度有显著的相关性(P<0.05)。在甘氨酸酪氨酸角蛋白辅助蛋白中, 外显子位点W06933的AA基因型和BB基因型与羊毛细度之间有显著的相关性(P<0.05)。     

羊毛角蛋白基因家族及其启动子调控作用研究进展

羊毛是养羊业重要的畜产品和经济来源之一,近年来羊毛蛋白组学研究取得很大进展,羊毛组分和结构的研究为羊毛角蛋白编码基因及其表达调控研究奠定了基础。该文介绍了羊毛的基本结构组成和在羊毛生长发育过程中羊毛相关角蛋白的表达调控机制,角蛋白基因表达具有高度的组织特异性和时空性,这种特异性表达受到严格调控,而启动子是基因表达调控的关键元件。文章进一步对当前羊毛角蛋白基因启动子研究进展进行综述,分析相关转录因子通过与启动子特异性位点结合来调控最终羊毛性状的机制,围绕羊毛结构、相关基因表达特征以及特异性启动子调控机制等方面论述了羊毛生长发育及其蛋白特异性表达的研究进展,为羊毛发育及分子育种研究提供理论参考。     

山羊KAP6-1.2基因的克隆表达及分析

目的：研究角蛋白关联蛋白KAP6-1.2对不同品种羊绒和羊毛在核苷酸和氨基酸水平上的影响及在山羊皮肤中的定位表达。方法：以阿尔巴斯白绒山羊KAP6-1.2 cDNA设计特异引物,扩增5种山羊的KAP6-1.2基因的编码区,克隆并测序。制备KAP6-1.2 cRNA探针,通过组织切片原位杂交在皮肤中进行定位表达分析。结果：6种山羊的KAP6-1.2在核苷酸和氨基酸水平上高度同源,仅吐根堡奶山羊的编码区有2个碱基与其他5种山羊不同,导致编码的两个氨基酸残基也发生了改变。原位杂交结果显示,KAP6-1.2 mRNA在10月份皮肤、胚胎125d皮肤、胚胎115d皮肤初级和次级毛囊的皮质层均有强烈的表达。结论：KAP6-1.2的核苷酸序列和氨基酸序列在不同地区、不同品种山羊中高度保守,在胚胎和成年山羊皮肤的初级和次级毛囊的皮质层均有强烈的表达。     

Hoxc13在毛囊发育中的作用

Hoxc13属于Hox(Homobox)基因家族Abd-B类成员之一, 与毛囊形成和毛发生长密切相关。毛发结构蛋白KP(角蛋白)和KAP(角蛋白关联蛋白)的表达都受Hoxc13的严格调控, Hoxc13表达水平会直接影响毛发的特性, 对维持毛囊的正常形态也至关重要。文章就Hoxc13的表达水平对毛囊发育和毛发生长的影响及Hoxc13与相关基因的调控进行了综述。     

西藏绒山羊KA P9.2基因CDS克隆、外显子区多态性及表达分析

KAP9.2基因是角蛋白关联蛋白(keratin associated protein, KAP)中的一员,在毛发的形成过程中有重要的调控作用。本研究对西藏绒山KAP9.2基因CDS进行了克隆;采用直接测序法对绒山羊200个个体KAP9.2基因外显子区的遗传变异情况进行分析;并利用Real-time PCR分析了KAP9.2基因在不同海拔山羊中的表达。结果显示,西藏绒山羊KAP9.2基因CDS序列为576 bp,编码191个氨基酸;KAP9.2基因外显子存在25处SNP位点及一处30 bp的缺失突变,其中12处SNP为错义突变,其他13处为同义突变。遗传多态性分析表明KAP9.2基因多态性丰富,遗传变异大;连锁分析发现12与388位点、54与93位点、153与159位点、273与279位点完全连锁,H1为优势单倍型;Real-time PCR显示西藏绒山羊KAP9.2基因在高海拔地区m RNA表达水平显著高于特高海拔地区,推测该基因可能促进绒毛的生长。本研究结果揭示了西藏绒山羊KAP9.2基因的遗传多态性及其在不同海拔的表达,为进一步研究KAP9.2基因潜在的功能位点提供一定的理论依据。     

羊毛蛋白组学研究进展

和其他哺乳动物的毛发一样,羊毛是皮肤衍生物,主要成分是角蛋白,其生长发育过程受到严格的基因调控并受多种因素的影响,另外还有绵羊品种的多样性和羊毛的多样化特征,因此,羊毛生长发育是一个复杂的过程。通过对羊毛的表型特征和成分分析,结合羊毛蛋白分离鉴定技术,已经在羊毛成分分析和生长发育机制方面取得了大量成果。羊毛主要由角蛋白中间丝蛋白和角蛋白联合蛋白组成,二者均有多个亚家族,且构成了羊毛的主体,同时也决定了羊毛的化学结构与理化特征。该文从羊毛研究技术、角蛋白家族分类和生长发育方面阐述羊毛蛋白组学的研究进展概况,以期为羊毛发育及分子标记育种研究提供理论参考。     

我国首创兔毛、羊毛角蛋白转基因棉

上海世华植物基因工程有限公司与中国科学院植物生理研究所合作,研究成功兔毛、羊毛角蛋白转基因棉。这标志着我国基因工程改良棉纤维获得了重大的创新性的突破,该项成果居世界领先水平。兔毛、羊毛角蛋白转基因棉是通过基因工程的方法,将兔毛、羊毛的角蛋白基因导入棉花,使之在棉纤维中得到表达,从而达到改良棉纤维的目的。该转基因棉,既具有传统的棉纤维保暖、透气的特点,同时又具有兔毛、羊毛的弹性好、保暖性强、纤维细长、手感好及光泽亮丽的优点。这是棉花品质育种上的重大突破。这意味着在棉纺织品材料中,将推出一个新的极有…     

绵羊高硫角蛋白KAP1.3基因启动子活性分析

旨在研究高硫角蛋白基因启动子及相关调控序列的表达活性。以绵羊基因组为模板,克隆KAP1.3基因启动子序列,对其进行5个系列缺失片段pGL4.10表达载体构建,将不同重组质粒转染小鼠成纤维细胞,通过裂解细胞测定其荧光值方法来检测启动子的表达活性。结果显示,除KAP1.3-P5片段其余片段均具有表达活性,其中KAP1.3-P1片段表达活性最高,而缺失-944至-707处的KAP1.3-P2对启动子的活性没有显著影响,但缺失-944至-394处KAP1.3-P3片段对启动子活性影响比较大,从P3和P4的结果中可以看出,虽然两个片段都缺失了转录因子bHLH的结合位点,但P4的活性比P3高出约20%,由此推测在-394至-195之间可能存在一个负调控元件,在-195和-4之间可能存在一个增强元件,但具体的调控元件还需要再进行细致地分析,优化出活性最高且特异性不变的启动子片段。     

基于皮肤组织转录组学和蛋白质组学测序揭示影响羊毛性状的关键基因（英文）

目的 羊毛是高档纺织原料,羊毛的物理性质直接关系到羊毛品质。本研究旨在挖掘影响羊毛性状的基因,探索影响羊毛性状的复杂分子机制。方法 本研究选取萨福克羊和小尾寒羊各3只作为试验样本,取背部皮肤组织,采用转录组学（RNA-seq）和蛋白质组学测序分析造成羊毛性状差异的基因、蛋白质及相关信号通路。结果 转录组测序表明：测序完成后,共得到230 406 674个原始数据和222 049 370个干净数据,其中Q20碱基百分比为99.9%以上,Q30碱基百分比为98%以上。以差异倍数FC≥1.4或FC≤0.714且P<0.05作为标准,由此筛选出1 213个差异表达基因（DEGs）,其中萨福克羊与小尾寒羊相比,上调基因有644个,下调基因有569个。GO富集发现中间丝、钙离子结合、角蛋白丝显著富集,表明其可能与羊毛性状相关。KEGG富集发现,影响羊毛性状的信号通路可能是ECM-受体相互作用。蛋白质组测序表明：以差异倍数FC≥1.4或FC≤0.714且P<0.05作为标准,由此筛选出99个差异表达蛋白（DEPs）,其中萨福克羊与小尾寒羊相比,上调蛋白有47个,下调蛋白有52个。GO富集...     

三个山羊品种KAP8基因的PCR-SSCP分析

目的：为了筛选绒山羊产绒性状的候选基因。方法：采用PCR-SSCP法对三个山羊品种角蛋白辅助蛋白8（KAP8）进行了多态性研究。结果：三个品种中KAP8.1均未出现多态,而KAP8.2均出现了三种带型：AA、BB和AB。Hardy-Weinberg分析表明辽宁绒山羊和黎城大青羊未达到平衡状态,辽-苛高代杂种山羊达到了平衡。测序结果显示,和Genebank登陆序列相比,AA和BB均发生了碱基变化。其中AA型出现了以下变异：216bp（G-A）,217（A-G）,BB型出现了以下变异：216bp（G-A）,232bp（C-T）。分析表明AA型变异造成了氨基酸序列发生了变化（R-K）,而BB型突变未造成氨基酸发生改变。结论：KAP8.2可能是影响绒山羊产绒性状的基因之一。     

Characterisation of white and black merino wools: a proteomics study

Wool is an important agricultural commodity with merino wool being rated alongside the finest quality fibres, which include the goat fibres Mohair and Cashmere. Although pigmented wool merinos have become extremely rare, the market for this wool is increasing. In Portugal, there are two merino breeds: white and black, descendants of animals originally bred on the Iberian Peninsula. These breeds have the potential to assist in our understanding of how protein expression relates to wool traits of importance to the textile industry. Herein, we study the characteristics and protein expression profiles of wool from ewes of the Portuguese black and white merino (n=15). Both breeds had very similar results for fibre diameter (25 µm) and curvature (105 to 111°/mm). Significant between-breed differences were found in the two types of keratin-associated proteins (KAPs): high-sulphur proteins (HSPs) and high-glycine–tyrosine proteins (HGTPs). The expression of HSPs, KAP2-3 and KAP2-4, decreased expression in the pigmented animals, whereas KAP13-1 was found in higher amounts. Likewise, the expression of the ultra-high-sulphur proteins, KAP4-3 and KAP4-7-like, was reduced in black sheep to half the levels of the white wools, whereas the HGTPs, KAP6, KAP6-1, KAP6-2 and KAP16-2, were more abundant in black sheep. These results suggest structural differences between the black and white merino wool, because of differences among some KAPs. These differences have important implications for the textile industry.     

Characterization and expression analysis of KAP7.1, KAP8.2 gene in Liaoning new-breeding cashmere goat hair follicle

Keratin-associated protein is one of the major structural proteins of the hair, whose content in hair has important effect on the quality of cashmere. In order to study the relationship between HGTKAP gene expression and cashmere fineness, the quantitative real-time RT–PCR (qRT–PCR) was firstly used to detect the levels of KAP7.1, KAP8.2 gene expression in the primary and secondary hair follicles; semi-quantitative RT–PCR was used to detect whether KAP7.1, KAP8.2 gene are expressed in heart, liver, spleen, lung, kidney tissues; and in situ hybridization(ISH) to detect KAP7.1 gene expression location. qRT–PCR result showed that the expression of both KAP7.1 and KAP8.2 gene in the secondary hair follicles are significantly higher than that in the primary follicles, relative quantitative analysis obtained that KAP7.1 was 2.28 times, while KAP8.2 was 2.71 times. Semi-quantitative RT–PCR results revealed that KAP 7.1 and KAP8.2 mRNA were not detected in the heart, liver, spleen, lung and kidney tissues, demonstrating that KAP7.1 and KAP8.2 were specially expressed in hair follicles, participating in hair formation. Moreover, KAP7.1 gene has a strong expression in the cortical layer, inner root sheath of the primary follicles and the cortical layer, inner root sheath and hair matrix of the secondary hair follicles by ISH analysis. Taken together, the evidence presented here indicated that in the formation of cashmere and wool, differential expression of these two genes in the primary and secondary hair follicles may have an important role in regulating the fiber diameter.     

aPCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing detecting two silent SNPs at KAP8.1 gene in the cashmere goat

Keratin-associated proteins 8.1 gene (KAP8.1) is a structural gene responsible for the cashmere. KAP8.1 protein contains high glycine and tyrosine, which concerns regulation and function of the matrix structure fiber. In this study, the polymorphism of KAP8.1 gene was detected by methods of aPCR-SSCP (asymmetric polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism) and DNA sequencing in 791 individuals from two breeds. The results showed that there were two mutations in this gene. The mutations were described as c.63 T>G and c.66 C>G, which would result in two synonymous mutations in KAP8.1 protein. The findings go against previous research, in which there was not polymorphism at KAP8.1 gene. The reasons might be that different cashmere breeds were detected in two studies. Further analysis of results leads us to believe that the polymorphism of KAP8.1 gene might be relevant to fiber diameter.     

The effect of oxidation or alkylation on the separation of wool keratin proteins by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis

Comparative two-dimensional electrophoretic (2-DE) studies were performed over a time-course to examine the effect of oxidation or alkylation on the separation of wool keratin proteins. The effect of oxidation was followed by treating scoured wool fibres with increasing levels of hydrogen peroxide, ranging from 0-12 g/L, using conditions mimicking the industrial wool bleaching process. Peroxide treatment was found to have only a minor effect on the 2-DE separation of the intermediate filament protein (IFP) class. Conversely, peroxide treatment of the 24-28 kDa high sulphur protein (HSP) class, which contains up to 40 cysteine residues per protein, resulted in the gradual disappearance of the major HSP spots correlated with the appearance of a few discrete spots at lower isoelectric point (pI). This suggested that only a few specific cysteine residues were being oxidized to cysteic acid by treatment with hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide treatment also appeared to have affected a discrete number of cysteine residues among proteins in the high glycine-tyrosine protein (HGTP) class, reducing the intensity of the high pI spots, while correspondingly increasing the intensity of those at lower pI. In a separate study, wool proteins were alkylated with iodoacetamide (1 M, pH 8) for periods ranging from 10 min to 48 h. In contrast to treatment with peroxide, the pI values of the HSP spots were unaffected by alkylation, irrespective of the length of this treatment. Alkylation resulted in a shift to lower pI and a loss of resolution of individual spots in the Type I and II IFP trains, to the extent that after 24 h alkylation individual spots in these trains merged. In addition after 1 h the intensity of the high pI Type II IFPs decreased until they were no longer visible on the 2-DE map after 24 h. Similarly as alkylation time increased, the major, high pI HGTP spots decreased in intensity. In unison with their decrease, some of the lower pI spots increased in intensity, while new spots appeared at more acidic pIs. Mass spectral studies indicated that cysteine alkylation was relatively fast, with 70-95% of the cysteines in the keratin proteins being alkylated within the first 10 min, while in the case of the HGTPs there was evidence for noncysteine alkylation occurring within this period. Alkylation of proteins for periods of up to 6 h prior to electrofocusing is being promoted as a better alternative to the current 2-DE protocol of the inclusion of a reductant in the immobilized pH gradient rehydration solution. This study has clearly demonstrated that long alkylation times do not suit all protein types or classes.     

Evidence of linkage between high-glycine-tyrosine keratin gene loci and wool fibre diameter in a Merino half-sib family

Candidate genes for quantitative trait loci have been studied in a Medium Peppin Merino flock. Obvious candidates for effects on wool production traits are genes for the major proteins expressed in the wool fibre, the keratin and keratin-associated protein genes. Two keratin-associated protein loci, KRTAP6 and KRTAP8, have previously been shown to be linked. The results of analyses between these two loci and production traits gave significant evidence of linkage with wool fibre diameter in one out of eight halfsib groups tested. High-glycine-tyrosine proteins (KRTAP6, 7 and 8) are known to vary considerably in abundance in wool fibres and it is possible that a gene for major effect on fibre diameter is located within the same chromosomal region as KRTAP6 and KRTAP8.     

Identification of the ovine KAP11-1 gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">KRTAP11</Emphasis>-<Emphasis Type="Italic">1</Emphasis>) and genetic variation in its coding sequence

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are a structural component of the wool fibre and form the matrix between the keratin intermediate filaments (KIFs). The gene encoding high sulphur-protein KAP11-1 has been identified in human, cattle and mouse, but not yet in sheep, despite the economic importance of wool. In this study, PCR using primers based on the cattle KAP11-1 gene sequence produced an amplicon of the expected size with sheep DNA. Upon using PCR–Single Stranded Conformational Polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) analysis in 260 sheep, six different PCR–SSCP patterns were detected. Either one or a combination of two banding patterns was observed for each sheep, suggesting they were either homozygous or heterozygous for this gene. Sequencing of the amplicons confirmed the occurrence of six DNA sequences. All of these were unique, and the greatest homology was with KRTAP11-1 sequences from cattle, human and mouse, suggesting that they were derived from the ovine KAP11-1 gene and were allelic variants. The ovine KAP11-1 gene had an open reading frame of 477 nucleotides encoding 159 amino acids. The putative protein was rich in serine, cysteine, and threonine which account for 18.2–18.9, 12.6 and 12.0 mol%, respectively. Of these, approximately 20 of the serine and threonine residues might be phosphorylated. Five nucleotide substitutions were identified, and one was non-synonymous and would result in an amino acid change at a potential phosphorylation site. The genetic variation found in KRTAP11-1 may influence its expression, protein structure, and/or post-translational modifications, and consequently affect wool fibre structure and wool traits.     

Genome-Wide Association Study for Wool Production Traits in a Chinese Merino Sheep Population

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide a powerful approach for identifying quantitative trait loci without prior knowledge of location or function. To identify loci associated with wool production traits, we performed a genome-wide association study on a total of 765 Chinese Merino sheep (JunKen type) genotyped with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). In the present study, five wool production traits were examined: fiber diameter, fiber diameter coefficient of variation, fineness dispersion, staple length and crimp. We detected 28 genome-wide significant SNPs for fiber diameter, fiber diameter coefficient of variation, fineness dispersion, and crimp trait in the Chinese Merino sheep. About 43% of the significant SNP markers were located within known or predicted genes, including YWHAZ, KRTCAP3, TSPEAR, PIK3R4, KIF16B, PTPN3, GPRC5A, DDX47, TCF9, TPTE2, EPHA5 and NBEA genes. Our results not only confirm the results of previous reports, but also provide a suite of novel SNP markers and candidate genes associated with wool traits. Our findings will be useful for exploring the genetic control of wool traits in sheep.     

Polymorphism of the ovine keratin-associated protein 1-4 gene (<Emphasis Type="Italic">KRTAP1-4</Emphasis>)

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are one of the main structural components of the wool fibre and form a semi-rigid matrix in which the keratin intermediate filaments are embedded. Variation in the KAP genes may affect the structure of KAPs and hence wool characteristics. In this study, we used PCR-SSCP to analyse ovine KRTAP1-4 (previously B2D), a gene encoding a member of the KAP1-x family. Nine different PCR-SSCP patterns were detected in the 320 sheep that were analysed. Either one or a combination of two patterns was observed for each sheep, which was consistent with these sheep being either homozygous or heterozygous for this gene. DNA sequencing revealed that these patterns represent nine different DNA sequences. All of these sequences were unique, but shared a high homology with the published ovine KRTAP1-4 sequence, suggesting that these sequences represent allelic variants of KRTAP1-4. There were a total of 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified and these SNPs tended to be clustered in two regions. Of the 13 SNPs found in the coding region, nine were non-synonymous SNPs and would result in amino acid changes. The variation detected here may have an impact on the structure of KAP1-4 and hence affect wool traits.