The mechanism of m6A methylation analysis of the transcriptome to regulate the diameter of Alpine Merino wool fiber.

Objective: Wool is an important textile raw material, and fiber diameter is a major determinant of the economic value and quality of wool products. Analyses of the regulatory mechanisms underlying wool fiber diameter are necessary for the development of strategies to improve wool fineness. Therefore, we used methylationomics to analyze the skin tissue of individuals with different fiber diameters, and analyzed the apparent regulation mechanism of wool fiber diameter.

Methods: In this study, we jointly analyzed the transcriptome and m6A methylome of skin tissues from individual Alpine Merino sheep with different wool fiber diameters (classified into three groups) to mine key methylated RNAs and explore the significance of m6A methylation in the regulation of this trait.

Result: In total, 54,057 methylated peaks, 4,273 differentially methylated genes, 139 differentially methylated lncRNAs, and 2,992 differentially methylated circRNAs were found in the three comparisons. These loci were enriched in the Wnt, Notch, and TGF-β signaling pathways, as determined through GO and KEGG pathway analyses. RNA correlation analyses revealed key RNAs, such as CACNA1E, FOS, CAMK2B, RNF43, circ-0317, circ-4794, TCONS-00020832, and TCONS-00020845, indicating that hypermethylation may be an important factor affecting wool fiber diameter.

Conclusion: These findings provide insight into the molecular regulatory mechanism underlying wool fiber diameter and provide a theoretical basis for the development of the wool industry.