Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits
Abstract Background Milk production traits are complex traits with vital economic importance in the camel industry. However, the genetic mechanisms regulating milk production traits in camels remain poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify candidate genes and metabolic pathways that affect...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-11-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09703-9 |
| _version_ | 1827770723630841856 |
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| author | Huaibing Yao Zhihua Dou Zhongkai Zhao Xiaorui Liang Haitao Yue Wanpeng Ma Zhanqiang Su Yuzhuo Wang Zelin Hao Hui Yan Zhuangyuan Wu Liang Wang Gangliang Chen Jie Yang |
| author_facet | Huaibing Yao Zhihua Dou Zhongkai Zhao Xiaorui Liang Haitao Yue Wanpeng Ma Zhanqiang Su Yuzhuo Wang Zelin Hao Hui Yan Zhuangyuan Wu Liang Wang Gangliang Chen Jie Yang |
| author_sort | Huaibing Yao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Milk production traits are complex traits with vital economic importance in the camel industry. However, the genetic mechanisms regulating milk production traits in camels remain poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify candidate genes and metabolic pathways that affect milk production traits in Bactrian camels. Methods We classified camels (fourth parity) as low- or high-yield, examined pregnant camels using B-mode ultrasonography, observed the microscopic changes in the mammary gland using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and used RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways. Results The average standard milk yield over the 300 days during parity was recorded as 470.18 ± 9.75 and 978.34 ± 3.80 kg in low- and high-performance camels, respectively. Nine female Junggar Bactrian camels were subjected to transcriptome sequencing, and 609 and 393 DEGs were identified in the low-yield vs. high-yield (WDL vs. WGH) and pregnancy versus colostrum period (RSQ vs. CRQ) comparison groups, respectively. The DEGs were compared with genes associated with milk production traits in the Animal Quantitative Trait Loci database and in Alashan Bactrian camels, and 65 and 46 overlapping candidate genes were obtained, respectively. Functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction network analyses of the DEGs and candidate genes were conducted. After comparing our results with those of other livestock studies, we identified 16 signaling pathways and 27 core candidate genes associated with maternal parturition, estrogen regulation, initiation of lactation, and milk production traits. The pathways suggest that emerged milk production involves the regulation of multiple complex metabolic and cellular developmental processes in camels. Finally, the RNA sequencing results were validated using quantitative real-time PCR; the 15 selected genes exhibited consistent expression changes. Conclusions This study identified DEGs and metabolic pathways affecting maternal parturition and milk production traits. The results provides a theoretical foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of genes related to milk production traits in camels. Furthermore, these findings will help improve breeding strategies to achieve the desired milk yield in camels. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4501c7c3e27e4949bc0c43e13a87f385 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T12:43:36Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-4501c7c3e27e4949bc0c43e13a87f3852023-11-05T12:08:28ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642023-11-0124111910.1186/s12864-023-09703-9Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traitsHuaibing Yao0Zhihua Dou1Zhongkai Zhao2Xiaorui Liang3Haitao Yue4Wanpeng Ma5Zhanqiang Su6Yuzhuo Wang7Zelin Hao8Hui Yan9Zhuangyuan Wu10Liang Wang11Gangliang Chen12Jie Yang13Key Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural UniversityCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural UniversityXinjiang Altai Regional Animal Husbandry Veterinary StationKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityXinjiang Altai Regional Animal Husbandry Veterinary StationXinjiang Camel Industry Engineering Technology Research CenterXinjiang Camel Industry Engineering Technology Research CenterKey Laboratory of Biological Resources and Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang UniversityAbstract Background Milk production traits are complex traits with vital economic importance in the camel industry. However, the genetic mechanisms regulating milk production traits in camels remain poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify candidate genes and metabolic pathways that affect milk production traits in Bactrian camels. Methods We classified camels (fourth parity) as low- or high-yield, examined pregnant camels using B-mode ultrasonography, observed the microscopic changes in the mammary gland using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, and used RNA sequencing to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and pathways. Results The average standard milk yield over the 300 days during parity was recorded as 470.18 ± 9.75 and 978.34 ± 3.80 kg in low- and high-performance camels, respectively. Nine female Junggar Bactrian camels were subjected to transcriptome sequencing, and 609 and 393 DEGs were identified in the low-yield vs. high-yield (WDL vs. WGH) and pregnancy versus colostrum period (RSQ vs. CRQ) comparison groups, respectively. The DEGs were compared with genes associated with milk production traits in the Animal Quantitative Trait Loci database and in Alashan Bactrian camels, and 65 and 46 overlapping candidate genes were obtained, respectively. Functional enrichment and protein–protein interaction network analyses of the DEGs and candidate genes were conducted. After comparing our results with those of other livestock studies, we identified 16 signaling pathways and 27 core candidate genes associated with maternal parturition, estrogen regulation, initiation of lactation, and milk production traits. The pathways suggest that emerged milk production involves the regulation of multiple complex metabolic and cellular developmental processes in camels. Finally, the RNA sequencing results were validated using quantitative real-time PCR; the 15 selected genes exhibited consistent expression changes. Conclusions This study identified DEGs and metabolic pathways affecting maternal parturition and milk production traits. The results provides a theoretical foundation for further research on the molecular mechanism of genes related to milk production traits in camels. Furthermore, these findings will help improve breeding strategies to achieve the desired milk yield in camels. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09703-9Bactrian camelMilk production traitsDiagnosis of pregnancyRNA sequencingMilk-related genes |
| spellingShingle | Huaibing Yao Zhihua Dou Zhongkai Zhao Xiaorui Liang Haitao Yue Wanpeng Ma Zhanqiang Su Yuzhuo Wang Zelin Hao Hui Yan Zhuangyuan Wu Liang Wang Gangliang Chen Jie Yang Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits BMC Genomics Bactrian camel Milk production traits Diagnosis of pregnancy RNA sequencing Milk-related genes |
| title | Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| title_full | Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| title_short | Transcriptome analysis of the Bactrian camel (Camelus bactrianus) reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis of the bactrian camel camelus bactrianus reveals candidate genes affecting milk production traits |
| topic | Bactrian camel Milk production traits Diagnosis of pregnancy RNA sequencing Milk-related genes |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09703-9 |
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