research Differential Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analyses of the Skin of Coarse and Fine Liaoning Cashmere Goats
The study examined the relationship between regulatory factors and cashmere fiber diameter in 400 female Liaoning cashmere goats, divided into coarse and fine hair types. Significant differences in fiber diameters were found between the groups. Transcriptomic analysis identified 211 differentially expressed genes, such as FGF18, KRT36, KRT79, AWAT2, and MOGAT1, linked to hair follicle growth and sebum secretion through PPAR and glycerol–lipid metabolism pathways. Metabolomics analysis identified 50 differentially expressed metabolites involved in cellular ion channels and neurological pathways, including ABC transporter protein pathways and arachidonic acid metabolism. These findings could help improve cashmere quality in goats.
