Identification of Potential Key Genes and Pathways Associated with the Pashmina Fiber Initiation Using RNA-Seq and Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

The study focused on identifying key genes and pathways involved in the initiation of Pashmina fiber in Pashmina goats by analyzing transcriptome profiles from 10 goats during the anagen and telogen phases of hair follicle growth. It was found that 150 genes were significantly upregulated during the anagen phase, with specific genes such as HAS1, TRIB2, and P2RX1 showing higher expression. Key signaling pathways like Wnt, NF-Kappa, and JAK-STAT were implicated in fiber initiation. Additionally, genes from the Integrin family and ECM-receptors were more active during anagen. The study identified several key genes and a collagen cluster potentially linked to anagen induction, and suggested that transcription factors like RUNX3 and the GATA family play roles in initiating and maintaining fiber quality.