Characterization and Functional Analysis of the WIF1 Gene and Its Role in Hair Follicle Growth and Development of the Angora Rabbit
September 2022
in “
World Rabbit Science
”
TLDR The WIF1 gene is crucial for hair growth in Angora rabbits.
The study on Angora rabbits reveals that the WIF1 gene, which encodes a 379 amino acid protein, plays a crucial role in hair follicle (HF) growth and development. The gene is unstable, hydrophilic, and extracellular, and is significantly downregulated in high wool-producing rabbits. Functional analyses indicate that WIF1 regulates HF growth-related genes and proteins, such as LEF1 and CCND1, by activating β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity, promoting cell apoptosis, and inhibiting cellular proliferation. These findings highlight the importance of WIF1 in HF development and provide a theoretical basis for further research in this area.