Screening of circRNAs Associated with Secondary Wool Follicle Development in Fine-Wool Sheep and Construction of Their ceRNA Network

This study explores the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the development of secondary wool follicles in fine-wool sheep, focusing on ten embryonic stages in Alpine Merino sheep. Researchers identified 173 differentially expressed circRNAs enriched in pathways crucial for hair follicle development, such as Wnt/β-catenin and Notch. They constructed 88 circRNA–miRNA–mRNA regulatory networks, highlighting 16 key circRNAs, including circRNA_07722 and circRNA_08249, which interact with 44 miRNAs and 65 mRNAs. These findings enhance the understanding of wool growth regulation and offer a theoretical basis for molecular breeding in fine-wool sheep, potentially aiding in the breeding of sheep for higher quality wool.