Study On Differential Expression Of Genes Influencing The Formation Of High Quality Brush Fair In Yangtze River Delta White Goat

Yangtze River Delta white goat is an exclusive indigenous Chinese goat breeds that can produce high quality Brush Hair specialized in making valuable writing brush. The quantity of purebred Yangtze River Delta white goats is decreasing and the production of Brush Fair is shrinking because of the crossbreeding with foreign breeds and insufficient protection to this genetic resource. Early researches explored the structure characteristic of Brush Hair, the growth regions of different grade hair and the influence of environment and nutrition on the production of high quality Brush Hair. But few researches were reported in the world to clarify the mechanisms guiding the formation of this unique genetic trait. This study will explored the genes regulating the structure and shape of high quality Brush Hair for the porpuse to develop and utilize this unique genetic trait and provide theoretical basis.Screening of genes influencing the formation of high quality Brush Hair was conducted using differential display of mRNA technique in skin of different goat groups and the differential bands were identified using reverse Northern Dot Blot, and the positive bands were subsequently cloned and sequenced. DNA sequences were analyzed at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, USA) database using the BLASTN.The results showed that20differentially displayed bands were obtained, six of which were identified positive as expressed in skin by reverse Northern dot blot. Three of these six cDNAs were respectively homologous to CKLF-like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing3(CMTM3), secreted protein, acidic, cysteine-rich/osteonectin (SPRAC) and S100calcium binding protein A4(S100A4). Another three were homologous to certain sequences in Genbank, but their functions were unknown.After analysising the six sequences, the conclusions were as follows.(1) CMTM3 probably participates in growth of high quality Brush Hair and hair follicle cycle by indirectly regulating the transcription of androgen receptor (AR).(2) SPARC is involved in some signal pathways and regulate some growth factors, such as Wnt, FGF, TGF-β, Igf-1, PDGF and so on. It may influence the formation of high quality Brush Hair through these signal pathways and growth factors.(3) S100A4are clustered with other skin development-associated genes in a region of human chromosome1q21known as the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC), and the gene clustering suggests that S100genes are associated with maturation of the skin and its appendages, such as hair follicles and skin glands.(4) The other three sequences were new to to already known genes related to hair growth and cycle. The functions of these three sequences need further confirmation.The functions of differentially expressed genes found in our study need further investigation, and the molecular mechanisms of these genes are not clarified clearly. But the results can provide a new view to elucidate their roles in hair growth and hair follicle cycle and increase our understanding of the formation of high quality Brush Hair.