Genome‑wide DNA methylation and transcriptome analyses reveal the key gene for wool type variation in sheep

Background Wool fibers are valuable materials for textile industry.Typical wool fibers are divided into medullated and non-medullated types,with the former generated from primary wool follicles and the latter by either primary or secondary wool follicles.The medullated wool is a common wool type in the ancestors of fine wool sheep before breeding.The fine wool sheep have a non-medullated coat.However,the critical period determining the type of wool follicles is the embryonic stage,which limits the phenotypic observation and variant contrast,making both selection and studies of wool type variation fairly difficult.Results During the breeding of a modern fine(MF)wool sheep population with multiple-ovulation and embryo transfer technique,we serendipitously discovered lambs with ancestral-like coarse(ALC)wool.Whole-genome rese-quencing confirmed ALC wool lambs as a variant type from the MF wool population.We mapped the significantly associated methylation locus on chromosome 4 by using whole genome bisulfite sequencing signals,and in turn identified the SOSTDC1 gene as exons hypermethylated in ALC wool lambs compare to their half/full sibling MF wool lambs.Transcriptome sequencing found that SOSTDC1 was expressed dozens of times more in ALC wool lamb skin than that of MF and was at the top of all differentially expressed genes.An analogy with the transcriptome of coarse/fine wool breeds revealed that differentially expressed genes and enriched pathways at postnatal lamb stage in ALC/MF were highly similar to those at the embryonic stage in the former.Further experiments validated that the SOSTDC1 gene was specifically highly expressed in the nucleus of the dermal papilla of primary wool follicles.Conclusion In this study,we conducted genome-wide differential methylation site association analysis on differen-tial wool type trait,and located the only CpG locus that strongly associated with primary wool follicle development.Combined with transcriptome analysis,SOSTDC1 was identified as the only gene at this locus that was specifically overexpressed in the primary wool follicle stem cells of ALC wool lamb skin.The discovery of this key gene and its epigenetic regulation contributes to understanding the domestication and breeding of fine wool sheep.

Dynamic changes of genomic methylation profiles at different growth stages in Chinese Tan sheep

Background:Tan sheep,an important local sheep breed in China,is famous for their fur quality.One-month-old Tan sheep have white,curly hair with beautiful flower spikes,commonly known as“nine bends”,which has high economic value.However,the“nine bends”characteristic gradually disappears with age;consequently,the economic value of the Tan sheep decreases.Age-related changes in DNA methylation have been reported and may be responsible for age-induced changes in gene expression.Until now,no genome-wide surveys have been conducted to identify potential DNA methylation sites involved in different sheep growth stages.In this study we investigated the dynamic changes of genome-wide DNA methylation profiles in Tan sheep using DNA from skin and deep whole-genome bisulfite sequencing,and compared the DNA methylation levels at three different growth stages:1,24,and 48 months old(mon1,mon24,and mon48,respectively).Results:In this study,11 skin samples from three growth stages(four for mon1,four for mon24,and three for mon48)were used for DNA methylation analysis and gene expression profiling.There were 52,288 and 236 differentially methylated genes(DMGs)identified between mon1 and mon24,mon1 and mon48,and mon24 and mon48,respectively.Of the differentially methylated regions,1.11%,7.61%,and 7.65% were in the promoter in mon1 vs.mon24,mon24 vs.mon48,and mon1 vs.mon48,respectively.DMGs were enriched in the MAPK and WNT signaling pathways,which are related to age growth and hair follicle morphogenesis processes.There were 51 DMGs associated with age growth and curly fleece formation.Four DMGs between mon1 and mon48(KRT71,CD44,ROR2 and ZDHHC13)were further validated by bisulfite sequencing.Conclusions:This study revealed dynamic changes in the genomic methylation profiles of mon1,mon24,and mon48 sheep,and the percentages of methylated cytosines were 3.38%,2.85% and 4.17%,respectively.Of the DMGs,KRT71 and CD44 were highly methylated in mon1,and ROR2 and ZDHHC13 were highly methylated in mon48.These findings provide foundational information that may be used to develop strategies for potentially retaining the lamb fur and thus improving the economic value of Tan sheep.