Seasonal Variability in Transcript Expression of Type I and Type II Keratins in Wool Follicles of Lustrous Fleece-Producing Magra Sheep

The study investigated the seasonal variations in transcript expression of type I and type II keratin genes in the wool follicles of Magra sheep, known for their lustrous fleece. Wool samples were collected in February, July, and October and categorized into high and low luster based on Gloss 60° values. Quantitative PCR results showed that keratin genes were up-regulated in high-lustrous sheep compared to low-lustrous ones, with significant differences in K32, K40, and K82 transcript expression. Nucleotide sequence analysis identified non-synonymous mutations in K40 and K82 genes. The study suggested that higher keratin protein levels might be crucial for the wool's luster.