Keratin Gene Expression Differences in Wool Follicles and Sequence Diversity of High Glycine-Tyrosine Keratin-Associated Proteins (Kaps) in Magra Sheep of India

ABSTRACT

Wool fibers consist of proteins with majority belongs to keratin family. Longitudinally arrayed keratin intermediate filaments constitute a matrix surrounded by keratin-associated proteins (KAPs). These KAPs play essential role in providing the physico-mechanical properties of the wool fiber. Real time PCR assay revealed that type 1 hair cortex keratin K33A (K1.2) was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) upregulated in lustrous Magra wool follicles however other keratin and keratin associated protein (KAP) genes were found down regulated. Furthermore, nucleotide sequence analysis revealed 4, 30, and 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in KAP6, KAP7, and KAP8 genes, respectively. The presence of differing amount of type I and type II keratin and hydrophobic high glycine-tyrosine proteins in wool might be partially responsible for different glass transitions exhibited by wool and consequently imparts different physical properties like wool luster.

摘要

羊毛纤维主要由蛋白质组成，属于角蛋白家族.纵向排列的角蛋白中间丝构成由角蛋白相关蛋白包围的基质.这些角蛋白相关蛋白在提供羊毛纤维的物理机械性能中起着至关重要的作用.实时PCR检测发现，光泽马格拉毛囊中1型毛皮角蛋白K33A（K1.2）表达显著上调（p≤0.05），而其他角蛋白和角蛋白相关蛋白（KAP）基因表达显著下调.此外，核苷酸序列分析显示KAP6、KAP7和KAP8基因分别有4、30和7个单核苷酸多态性（SNPs）.羊毛中存在不同量的I型和II型角蛋白和疏水性高甘氨酸酪氨酸蛋白，这可能是羊毛表现出不同玻璃化转变的部分原因，从而赋予不同的物理性质，如羊毛光泽.

KEYWORDS:

• Wool
• luster
• gene
• keratin
• KAP
• HGT

关键词:

• 羊毛
• 光泽
• 基因
• 角蛋白
• 角蛋白相关蛋白

Acknowledgments

Authors are highly thankful to the Director, ICAR-Central Sheep and Wool Research Institute for providing necessary facility to conduct this research work.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here.