Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds
Thermogenesis plays an important role in the survival of sheep exposed to low temperatures; however, little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in sheep. We examined 6 Altay (A) and 6 Hu (H) six-month-old ewe lambs. Altay sheep are raised in northern China and are adapte...
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/375 |
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| author | Dan Jiao Kaixi Ji Hu Liu Wenqiang Wang Xiukun Wu Jianwei Zhou Yunsheng Zhang Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Allan A. Degen Guo Yang |
| author_facet | Dan Jiao Kaixi Ji Hu Liu Wenqiang Wang Xiukun Wu Jianwei Zhou Yunsheng Zhang Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Allan A. Degen Guo Yang |
| author_sort | Dan Jiao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thermogenesis plays an important role in the survival of sheep exposed to low temperatures; however, little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in sheep. We examined 6 Altay (A) and 6 Hu (H) six-month-old ewe lambs. Altay sheep are raised in northern China and are adapted to dry, cold climates, while Hu sheep are raised in southern China and are adapted to warm, humid climates. Each breed was divided into two groups: chronic cold sheep, exposed to −5 °C for 25 days (3 A<sup>c</sup>; 3 H<sup>c</sup>), and thermo-neutral sheep, maintained at 20 °C (3 A<sup>w</sup>; 3 H<sup>w</sup>). The transcriptome profiles of hypothalamus, tail-fat and perirenal fat tissues from these four groups were determined using paired-end sequencing for RNA expression analysis. There are differences in cold tolerance between Hu and Altay sheep. Under cold exposure of the lambs: (1) UCP1-dependent thermogenesis and calcium- and cAMP-signaling pathways were activated; and (2) different fat tissues were activated in Hu and Altay lambs. Several candidate genes involved in thermogenesis including <i>UCP1</i>, <i>ADRB3</i>, <i>ADORA2A</i>, <i>ATP2A1</i>, <i>RYR1</i> and <i>IP6K1</i> were identified. Molecular mechanisms of thermogenesis in the sheep are discussed and new avenues for research are suggested. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:13:17Z |
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| issn | 2073-4425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:13:17Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
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| series | Genes |
| spelling | doaj.art-b2af921e112046d2a3d5a9000e3e00332023-12-03T12:47:10ZengMDPI AGGenes2073-44252021-03-0112337510.3390/genes12030375Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep BreedsDan Jiao0Kaixi Ji1Hu Liu2Wenqiang Wang3Xiukun Wu4Jianwei Zhou5Yunsheng Zhang6Huitong Zhou7Jon G. H. Hickford8Allan A. Degen9Guo Yang10Northwest Institute of Ecological Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaNorthwest Institute of Ecological Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaKey Laboratory of Desert and Desertification, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, ChinaSchool of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaInstitute of Animal Husbandry, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Science, Xinjiang 830000, ChinaGene-Marker Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandGene-Marker Laboratory, Department of Agricultural Sciences, Lincoln University, Lincoln 7647, New ZealandDesert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva l8410500, IsraelNorthwest Institute of Ecological Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730070, ChinaThermogenesis plays an important role in the survival of sheep exposed to low temperatures; however, little is known about the genetic mechanisms underlying cold adaptation in sheep. We examined 6 Altay (A) and 6 Hu (H) six-month-old ewe lambs. Altay sheep are raised in northern China and are adapted to dry, cold climates, while Hu sheep are raised in southern China and are adapted to warm, humid climates. Each breed was divided into two groups: chronic cold sheep, exposed to −5 °C for 25 days (3 A<sup>c</sup>; 3 H<sup>c</sup>), and thermo-neutral sheep, maintained at 20 °C (3 A<sup>w</sup>; 3 H<sup>w</sup>). The transcriptome profiles of hypothalamus, tail-fat and perirenal fat tissues from these four groups were determined using paired-end sequencing for RNA expression analysis. There are differences in cold tolerance between Hu and Altay sheep. Under cold exposure of the lambs: (1) UCP1-dependent thermogenesis and calcium- and cAMP-signaling pathways were activated; and (2) different fat tissues were activated in Hu and Altay lambs. Several candidate genes involved in thermogenesis including <i>UCP1</i>, <i>ADRB3</i>, <i>ADORA2A</i>, <i>ATP2A1</i>, <i>RYR1</i> and <i>IP6K1</i> were identified. Molecular mechanisms of thermogenesis in the sheep are discussed and new avenues for research are suggested.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/375sheepcold exposuretranscriptomeadipose tissue |
| spellingShingle | Dan Jiao Kaixi Ji Hu Liu Wenqiang Wang Xiukun Wu Jianwei Zhou Yunsheng Zhang Huitong Zhou Jon G. H. Hickford Allan A. Degen Guo Yang Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds Genes sheep cold exposure transcriptome adipose tissue |
| title | Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds |
| title_full | Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds |
| title_fullStr | Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds |
| title_short | Transcriptome Analysis Reveals Genes Involved in Thermogenesis in Two Cold-Exposed Sheep Breeds |
| title_sort | transcriptome analysis reveals genes involved in thermogenesis in two cold exposed sheep breeds |
| topic | sheep cold exposure transcriptome adipose tissue |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/12/3/375 |
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