Genome-Wide Detection and Sequence Conservation Analysis of Long Non-Coding RNA During Hair Follicle Cycle of Yak

This study identified 2884 long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) during the hair follicle (HF) cycle of yak across 5 phases and performed differential expression analysis, revealing significant changes in lncRNA expression between different phases. Key pathways involved in HF development, such as Wnt and VEGF signaling, were enriched. Comparative analysis with cashmere goat data identified 24 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) with varying degrees of sequence conservation, with 3 DELs selected for detailed analysis. The findings provided insights into the role and sequence conservation of lncRNAs in HF cycles, enhancing the understanding of lncRNA functionality and mechanisms in yak and potentially other species.