Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing

The molecular mechanism underlying rapid antler growth has not been elucidated. The contrast of the wapiti and sika deer antler provides a potential model for comparative studies for the identification of potent growth factors and unique regulatory systems. In the present study, reference transcript...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Pengfei Hu, Zhen Wang, Jiping Li, Dongxu Wang, Yusu Wang, Quanmin Zhao, Chunyi Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2203
_version_ 1797496739213606912
author Pengfei Hu
Zhen Wang
Jiping Li
Dongxu Wang
Yusu Wang
Quanmin Zhao
Chunyi Li
author_facet Pengfei Hu
Zhen Wang
Jiping Li
Dongxu Wang
Yusu Wang
Quanmin Zhao
Chunyi Li
author_sort Pengfei Hu
collection DOAJ
description The molecular mechanism underlying rapid antler growth has not been elucidated. The contrast of the wapiti and sika deer antler provides a potential model for comparative studies for the identification of potent growth factors and unique regulatory systems. In the present study, reference transcriptomes of antler RM tissue of wapiti and sika deer were constructed using single molecule real time sequencing data. The expression profiling, positive selection, and alternative splicing of the antler transcripts were compared. The results showed that: a total of 44,485 reference full-length transcripts of antlers were obtained; 254 highly expressed transcripts (HETs) and 1936 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched and correlated principally with translation, endochondral ossification and ribosome; 228 genes were found to be under strong positive selection and would thus be important for the evolution of wapiti and sika deer; among the alternative splicing variants, 381 genes were annotated; and 4 genes with node degree values greater than 50 were identified through interaction network analysis. We identified a negative and a positive regulator for rapid antler growth, namely <i>RNA Binding Motif Protein X-Linked (RBMX)</i> and <i>methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)</i>, respectively. Overall, we took advantage of this significant difference in growth rate and performed the comparative analyses of the antlers to identify key specific factors that might be candidates for the positive or negative regulation of phenomenal antler growth rate.
first_indexed 2024-03-10T03:07:53Z
format Article
id doaj.art-bd4b4b351302473c87eed9399c1062a4
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2076-2615
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-10T03:07:53Z
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Animals
spelling doaj.art-bd4b4b351302473c87eed9399c1062a42023-11-23T12:36:57ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-08-011217220310.3390/ani12172203Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome SequencingPengfei Hu0Zhen Wang1Jiping Li2Dongxu Wang3Yusu Wang4Quanmin Zhao5Chunyi Li6Institute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaInstitute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaInstitute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaInstitute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaInstitute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaCollege of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, ChinaInstitute of Antler Science and Product Technology, Changchun Sci-Tech University, Changchun 130600, ChinaThe molecular mechanism underlying rapid antler growth has not been elucidated. The contrast of the wapiti and sika deer antler provides a potential model for comparative studies for the identification of potent growth factors and unique regulatory systems. In the present study, reference transcriptomes of antler RM tissue of wapiti and sika deer were constructed using single molecule real time sequencing data. The expression profiling, positive selection, and alternative splicing of the antler transcripts were compared. The results showed that: a total of 44,485 reference full-length transcripts of antlers were obtained; 254 highly expressed transcripts (HETs) and 1936 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched and correlated principally with translation, endochondral ossification and ribosome; 228 genes were found to be under strong positive selection and would thus be important for the evolution of wapiti and sika deer; among the alternative splicing variants, 381 genes were annotated; and 4 genes with node degree values greater than 50 were identified through interaction network analysis. We identified a negative and a positive regulator for rapid antler growth, namely <i>RNA Binding Motif Protein X-Linked (RBMX)</i> and <i>methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3)</i>, respectively. Overall, we took advantage of this significant difference in growth rate and performed the comparative analyses of the antlers to identify key specific factors that might be candidates for the positive or negative regulation of phenomenal antler growth rate.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2203antler growth ratealternative splicing variantspositive selection genessingle molecule real time sequencingcomparative transcriptome
spellingShingle Pengfei Hu
Zhen Wang
Jiping Li
Dongxu Wang
Yusu Wang
Quanmin Zhao
Chunyi Li
Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
Animals
antler growth rate
alternative splicing variants
positive selection genes
single molecule real time sequencing
comparative transcriptome
title Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
title_full Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
title_fullStr Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
title_full_unstemmed Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
title_short Identification and Characterization of Alternative Splicing Variants and Positive Selection Genes Related to Distinct Growth Rates of Antlers Using Comparative Transcriptome Sequencing
title_sort identification and characterization of alternative splicing variants and positive selection genes related to distinct growth rates of antlers using comparative transcriptome sequencing
topic antler growth rate
alternative splicing variants
positive selection genes
single molecule real time sequencing
comparative transcriptome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/17/2203
work_keys_str_mv AT pengfeihu identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT zhenwang identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT jipingli identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT dongxuwang identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT yusuwang identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT quanminzhao identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing
AT chunyili identificationandcharacterizationofalternativesplicingvariantsandpositiveselectiongenesrelatedtodistinctgrowthratesofantlersusingcomparativetranscriptomesequencing