Whole Transcriptome Sequencing of Different Hair Types in Inner Mongolian Cashmere Goats

This study investigates the molecular basis of hair type differentiation in Inner Mongolian cashmere goats by performing whole-transcriptome sequencing on skin tissues from Long hair type and Short hair type goats at three stages of the secondary hair follicle cycle. The analysis identified significant differences in the expression of 299 mRNAs, 497 lncRNAs, 217 circRNAs, and 29 microRNAs between the two hair types. Enrichment analyses highlighted the role of keratin filaments and cytoskeletal organization in hair type differentiation, with key pathways including PI3K-Akt, Wnt, and TGF-β being involved. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed interaction modules dominated by ribosomal and keratin proteins. The study also identified potential regulatory relationships between keratin genes and non-coding RNAs, providing insights into hair type differentiation and offering targets for molecular breeding.