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Molecular characterization of HOXC8 gene and methylation status analysis of its exon 1 associated with the length of cashmere fiber in Liaoning cashmere goat

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Abstract

Homeobox protein Hox-C8 (HOXC8) is a member of Hox family. It is expressed in the dermal papilla of the skin and is thought to be associated with the hair inductive capacity of dermal papilla cells. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a full-length open reading frame of HOXC8 cDNA from the skin tissue of Liaoning cashmere goat, as well as, established a phylogenetic relationship of goat HOXC8 with that of other species. Also, we investigated the effect of methylation status of HOXC8 exon 1 at anagen secondary hair follicle on the cashmere fiber traits in Liaoning cashmere goat. The sequence analysis indicated that the obtained cDNA was 1134-bp in length containing a complete ORF of 729-bp. It encoded a peptide of 242 amino acid residues in length. The structural analysis indicated that goat HOXC8 contained a typical homeobox domain. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that Capra hircus HOXC8 had a closer genetic relationship with that of Ovis aries, followed by Bos Taurus and Bubalus bubalis. The methylation analysis suggested that the methylation degree of HOXC8 exon 1 in anagen secondary hair follicle might be involved in regulating the growth of cashmere fiber in Liaoning cashmere goat. Our results provide new evidence for understanding the molecular structural and evolutionary characteristics of HOXC8 in Liaoning cashmere goat, as well as, for further insight into the role of methylation degree of HOXC8 exon 1 regulates the growth of cashmere fiber in goat.

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Acknowledgements

The work was supported financially by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31672388), the Foundation of Natural Science Project of Liaoning Province, China (No. 2015020758), Scientific and Technology Project of Liaoning Province, China (No. 2014036 and 2015202004), Key Project Foundation of Education Department of Liaoning Province, China (No. LSNZD201606), a Foundation for University Talents of Liaoning Province of China (LJQ2013070), and the Projects of Tianzhushan Person of Outstanding Ability of Shenyang Agricultural University (Shenyang, Liaoning, China).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Zoonosis of Liaoning Province, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, People’s Republic of China

    Wen L. Bai, Jiao J. Wang, Rong H. Yin, Yun L. Dang, Ze Y. Wang, Yu B. Zhu, Yu Y. Cong, Liang Deng & Hui L. Xue

  2. Institute of Animal Husbandry Science of Liaoning Province, Liaoyang, 130062, People’s Republic of China

    Dan Guo, Shi Q. Wang & Shu H. Yang

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  1. Wen L. Bai
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  2. Jiao J. Wang
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  3. Rong H. Yin
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  4. Yun L. Dang
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  5. Ze Y. Wang
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Correspondence to Rong H. Yin.

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Bai, W.L., Wang, J.J., Yin, R.H. et al. Molecular characterization of HOXC8 gene and methylation status analysis of its exon 1 associated with the length of cashmere fiber in Liaoning cashmere goat. Genetica 145, 115–126 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10709-017-9950-5

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