Proteome Analysis of Alpine Merino Sheep Skin Reveals New Insights into the Mechanisms Involved in Regulating Wool Fiber Diameter

The study on Alpine Merino sheep skin proteome identified key proteins and signaling pathways involved in regulating wool fiber diameter, including cyclic adenosine monophosphate and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor signaling. Researchers found 694 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and highlighted proteins such as CIDEA, CRYM, MLX, TPST2, GPD1, GOPC, and CAMK2G. Functional analyses revealed that DEPs were involved in lipid metabolism, signal transduction, and structural molecular activity. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for understanding the genetic regulation of wool fiber quality, which could aid in the development of fine-wool sheep breeding programs.