The Fiber Diameter Traits of Tibetan Cashmere Goats Are Governed by the Inherent Differences in Stress, Hypoxic, and Metabolic Adaptations: An Integrative Study of Proteome and Transcriptome

This study investigated the genetic and protein differences influencing fiber diameter in Tibetan cashmere goats, which are adapted to high altitudes. By analyzing proteomic and transcriptomic data from goat skin tissues, researchers identified 1,980 proteins and mapped 1,730 to original protein coding genes. They found 29 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between fine and coarse cashmere, with key proteins involved in metabolic, hypoxic, and stress response pathways. The study highlighted proteins such as GC, VTN, AEBP1, and GPR142 as potential candidates for influencing cashmere traits. These findings suggested that variations in cashmere fiber diameter were linked to inherent metabolic, hypoxic, and stress adaptations, offering insights for breeding strategies and understanding the genetic mechanisms of cashmere traits in these goats.