Transcriptome Sequencing Analysis of Skin Tissues for the Jinlan Cashmere Goats (PRJCA030012)

The diverse coat types of cashmere goats significantly impact their cashmere yield. The fleece of cashmere goats consists of two distinct fibers: guard hair (coarse hair) and cashmere undercoat, which are produced by hair follicles. The hair follicle of goats undergoes a cyclical pattern of growth and regression, known as the hair cycle, encompassing three main phases: anagen (AN), catagen (CA), and telogen (TE). The Jinlan Cashmere Goat, a domesticated breed originating from Shanxi Province, China, is renowned for its high-quality cashmere production. The predominant coat type in this population is distinguished by the coarse hairs being longer than the cashmere (CHLC), with a minor fraction of individuals exhibiting the reverse, where the coarse hairs are shorter than the length of the cashmere (CHSC). In this study, we collected skin tissues from two distinct coat types (CHLC and CHSC) at different growth stages (Early stage of the anagen, ESA; Anagen, AN; Catagen, CA; Telogen, TE) for RNA-seq. Finally, some important non-coding RNAs, mRNAs, and related pathways have been identified. The results would provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of different coat types in cashmere goats, laying a solid foundation for future research in this area.