Proteomic Analysis of Fetal Skin by iTRAQ Reveals Molecular Signals Underlying Inner Mongolia Cashmere Goat Hair Follicle Initiation

The study used iTRAQ technology to analyze protein expression in the skin of Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat embryos at 45, 55, and 65 days, identifying 1172 proteins with 188 differentially expressed. Key proteins such as various keratins and others involved in signaling pathways like ECM–receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt, MAPK, TGF-beta, and WNT were found to play crucial roles in hair follicle initiation and development. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms of cashmere growth, which could improve cashmere quality through selective breeding.