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Background: Transmembrane protein 95 ( TMEM95 ) plays a role in male fertility. Previous studies showed that genes with a significant impact on reproductive traits can also affect the growth traits of livestock. Thus, we speculated that the genetic variation of TMEM95 gene may have effects on growth traits of cattle. Results: Two SNPs were genotyped. The rs136174626 and rs41904693 were in the intron 4 and 3′-untranslated region, respectively. The linkage disequilibrium analysis illustrated that these two loci were not linked. The rs136174626 was associated with six growth traits of Nanyang cattle, four traits of Luxi cattle, and three traits of Ji’an cattle. For rs41904693 locus, the GG individuals had greater body height and abdominal girth in Ji’ an cattle than TT and TG individuals. In Jinnan cattle, GG and TT individuals had greater body height, height at hip cross, body length, and heart girth than TG individuals. The potential splice site prediction results suggest that the rs136174626 may influence the splicing efficiency of TMEM95, and the miRNA binding site prediction results showed that the rs41904693 may influence the expression of TMEM95 by affecting the binding efficiency of Bta-miR-1584 and TMEM95 3′-UTR. Conclusions: The findings of the study suggested that the two SNPs in TMEM95 could be a reliable basis for molecular breeding in cattle. Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Tabla normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:107%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}

Sperm-associated antigen 17 (SPAG17) gene encodes a central pair protein, which is involved in flagellar motility, male fertility and skeletal growth in ruminants. The insertions/deletions (indels)...

In this study, we assembled the complete mitochondrial genome of Yanglong yak (Bos grunniens) from Illumina sequencing reads. The mitochondrial genome is 16,323 bp long with an A + T-biased nucleot...

Research has shown that cartilage containing chondroitin sulfate and protein presents versatile bioactivities. Chondroitin sulfate in cartilage is beneficial to activate the immune system while the protein/peptide has not been fully understood. The current study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of ethanol-soluble hydrolysates of sturgeon cartilage (ESCH) prepared through hot-pressure, enzymatic hydrolysis and ethanol extraction. UV spectrum, IR and agarose gel electrophoresis results suggested the successful exclusion of chondroitin sulfate from peptides. Nitric oxide (NO) floods in cells activated by inflammation. It was inhibited when administrated with ESCH. To further explain the observed anti-inflammatory activity, ESCH was separated with Sephadex G-15 into 3 components, among which F3 showed a higher NO inhibition rate and significantly reduced the production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. In addition, the yield of IL-10 increased. Western blotting suggested that F3 downregulated the NO content and IL-6 level by suppressing Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) channels. Moreover, both ESCH and F3 showed DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging abilities which was possibly related to the anti-inflammatory property. These results indicated that ESCH behaved anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Cartilage may be a good source to produce anti-inflammatory peptides.

In this study, high-throughput Illumina sequencing was employed to assemble the complete mitochondrial genome of the Meiren yak (Bos grunniens), a local yak breed from Gansu Province, China. The mitochondrial genome is 16,321 bp long with an A + T-biased nucleotide composition and harbors 13 protein-coding, 22 Trna, and 2 rRNA genes, and a noncoding control region. The mitogenomic organization and codon usage are highly similar to those of previously published congeneric mitochondrial genomes. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis indicates that Meiren yak is most closely related to nine other yak breeds (incl. Datong, Huanhu, Pali, Pamir, Polled, Qilian, Seron, Sunan, and Tianjun yaks).

The current study aimed to investigate the damage of long-term high concentrate diet feeding pattern on Yak jejunal structure, physiological function and protein composition during cold season. Twelve Datong male Yak (Bos grunniens) with the same age from cold season were randomly selected and slaughtered to determine Yak jejunal digestive enzyme activity, morphology and protein composition on different feeding patterns in Tibetan Plateau. The results showed that Yak jejunum digestive enzyme activity and morphology of grazing reared group were better than those in the intensively reared group. A total of 96 differentially expressed proteins were identified by label-free Mass Spectrometry (MS), which could be concluded to two predominant themes: protein structure and inflammatory response. Nine differentially expressed proteins were correlated in Yak jejunum damage in different feeding patterns. According to this research, we found that feeding pattern resulted the differences in Yak jejunum physiological function, morphology and protein composition. This fact was confirmed long-term high dietary concentrate feeding could damage the jejunum epithelial morphology and function.

In the present study, we report the complete mitochondrial genome of Niangya yak (Bos grunniens) and its phylogenetic inferences. The complete mitochondrial DNA is a circular molecule with 16,322 bp length consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding control region(D-loop). Both ND6 and 7 tRNAs (tRNA-Pro, tRNA-Glu, tRNA-Tyr, tRNA-Cys, tRNA-Asn, tRNA-Ala and tRNA-Gln) are encoded on the light strand, and the remaining genes are encoded on the heavy strand. The overall nucleotide composition is A(33.73%), T(27.28%), C(25.80%), G(13.19%) respectively. The content of C + G is 38.99%. Given that yak is indispensable for the Tibetan people, it is important to understand the genetic status of the population for further systematic genetics, evolutionary significance and protection of genetic resources. Therefore, to understand the evolutionary history of Niangya yak, the complete mitochondrial genome of Niangya yak was sequenced and compared with the mitochondrial genome of closely related Bos species.

The mammary gland is a remarkably dynamic organ of milk synthesis and secretion, and it experiences drastic structural and metabolic changes during the transition from dry periods to lactation, which involves the expression and regulation of numerous genes and regulatory factors. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) has considered as a novel type of regulatory factors involved in a variety of biological processes. However, their role in the lactation cycle of yak is still poorly understood. To reveal the involved mechanism, Ribo-zero RNA sequencing was employed to profile the lncRNA transcriptome in mammary tissue samples from yak at two physiological stages, namely lactation (LP) and dry period (DP). Notably, 1,599 lncRNA transcripts were identified through four rigorous steps and filtered through protein-coding ability. A total of 59 lncRNAs showed significantly different expression between two stages. Accordingly, the results of qRT-PCR were consistent with that of the transcriptome data. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses indicated that target genes of differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were involved in pathways related to lactation, such as ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, biosynthesis of amino acids and focal adhesion etc. Finally, we constructed a lncRNA-gene regulatory network containing some well known candidate genes for milk yield and quality traits. This is the first study to demonstrate a global profile of lncRNA expression in the mammary gland of yak. These results contribute to a valuable resource for future genetic and molecular studies on improving milk yield and quality, and help us to gain a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying lactogenesis and mammary gland development of yak.

Genomic selection is a promising breeding strategy that has been used in considerable numbers of breeding projects due to its highly accurate results. Yak are rare mammals that are remarkable because of their ability to survive in the extreme and harsh conditions predominantly at the so-called &ldquo, roof of the world&rdquo, &mdash, the Qinghai&ndash, Tibetan Plateau. In the current study, we conducted an exploration of the feasibility of genomic evaluation and compared the predictive accuracy of early growth traits with five different approaches. In total, four growth traits were measured in 354 yaks, including body weight, withers height, body length, and chest girth in two early stages of development (weaning and yearling). Genotyping was implemented using the Illumina BovineHD BeadChip. The predictive accuracy was calculated through five-fold cross-validation in five classical statistical methods including genomic best linear unbiased prediction (GBLUP) and four Bayesian methods. Body weights at 30 months in the same yak population were also measured to evaluate the prediction at 6 months. The results indicated that the predictive accuracy for the early growth traits of yak ranged from 0.147 to 0.391. Similar performance was found for the GBLUP and Bayesian methods for most growth traits. Among the Bayesian methods, Bayes B outperformed Bayes A in the majority of traits. The average correlation coefficient between the prediction at 6 months using different methods and observations at 30 months was 0.4. These results indicate that genomic prediction is feasible for early growth traits in yak. Considering that genomic selection is necessary in yak breeding projects, the present study provides promising reference for future applications.

The yak (Bos grunniens) is subjected to nutritional deficiency during the whole winter grazing season, deciphering the adipose metabolism and energy homeostasis under cold and nutrients stress conditions could be a novel way to understand the specific mechanism of energy metabolism. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have elucidated that they play a key role in many biological events, but the regulatory function of adipose development remains mostly unknown. Therefore, the expression pattern of circRNAs were identified for the first time during yak adipocyte differentiation to gain insight into their potential functional involvement in bovine adipogenesis. We detected 7203 circRNA candidates, most of them contained at least two exons, and multiple circRNA isoforms could be generated from one parental gene. Analysis of differential expression circRNAs displayed that 136 circRNAs were differentially expressed at day 12 (Ad) after adipocyte differentiation, compared with the control at day 0 (Pread 0), while 7 circRNAs were detected on day 2. Sanger sequencing validated that six circRNAs had head-to-tail junction, and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) results revealed that the expression patterns of ten circRNAs were consistent with their expression levels from RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. We further predicted the networks of circRNA-miRNA-gene based on miRNAs sponging by circRNAs, in which genes were participated in the adipocyte differentiation-related signaling pathways. After that, we constructed several adipocyte differentiation-related ceRNAs and revealed six circRNAs (novel_circ_0009127, novel_circ_0000628, novel_circ_0011513, novel_circ_0010775, novel_circ_0006981 and novel_circ_0001494) were related to adipogenesis. Furthermore, we analyzed the homology among yak, human and mouse circRNAs and found that 3536 yak circRNAs were homologous to human and mouse circRNAs. In conclusion, these findings provide a solid basis for the investigation of yak adipocyte differentiation-related circRNAs and serve as a great reference to study the energy metabolism of high-altitude animals.

DNA methylation modifications are implicated in many biological processes. As the most common epigenetic mechanism DNA methylation also affects muscle growth and development. The majority of previous studies have focused on different varieties of yak, but little is known about the epigenetic regulation mechanisms in different age groups of animals. The development of muscles in the different stages of yak growth remains unclear. In this study, we selected the longissimus dorsi muscle tissue at three different growth stages of the yak, namely, 90-day-old fetuses (group E), six months old (group M), and three years old (group A). Using RNA-Seq transcriptome sequencing and methyl-RAD whole-genome methylation sequencing technology, changes in gene expression levels and DNA methylation status throughout the genome were investigated during the stages of yak development. Each group was represented by three biological replicates. The intersections of expression patterns of 7694 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (padj &lt, 0.01, |log2FC| &gt, 1.2) at each of the three developmental periods. Time-series expression profile clustering analysis indicated that the DEGs were significantly arranged into eight clusters which could be divided into two classes (padj &lt, 0.05), class I profiles that were downregulated and class II profiles that were upregulated. Based on this cluster analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis revealed that DEGs from class I profiles were significantly (padj &lt, 0.05) enriched in 21 pathways, the most enriched pathway being the Axon guidance signaling pathway. DEGs from the class II profile were significantly enriched in 58 pathways, the pathway most strongly enriched being Metabolic pathway. After establishing the methylation profiles of the whole genomes, and using two groups of comparisons, the three combinations of groups (M-vs.-E, M-vs.-A, A-vs.-E) were found to have 1344, 822, and 420 genes, respectively, that were differentially methylated at CCGG sites and 2282, 3056, and 537 genes, respectively, at CCWGG sites. The two sets of data were integrated and the negative correlations between DEGs and differentially methylated promoters (DMPs) analyzed, which confirmed that TMEM8C, IGF2, CACNA1S and MUSTN1 were methylated in the promoter region and that expression of the modified genes was negatively correlated. Interestingly, these four genes, from what was mentioned above, perform vital roles in yak muscle growth and represent a reference for future genomic and epigenomic studies in muscle development, in addition to enabling marker-assisted selection of growth traits.

Qilian yak (Bos grunniens) is a local breed of yak with high adaptation to the high-elevation, cold, and anoxic environments. In this study, its complete mitochondrial genome was assembled from hig...

Sibu yak is famous for its excellent breed in Tibet and has become a magic way for local herdsmen to get rich. The Sibu yak, however, has been identified as an endangered bovine species. In this st...

Jinchuan yak was a newly discovered yak breed, not only possesses a large proportion of multi-ribs but also exhibits many good characteristics. However, there is limited information about its overall genetic structure. In this study, we assembled the mitochondrial genome for Jinchuan yak (Bos grunniens), the results show that the mitochondrial genome is 16,324bp long with an A + T-biased base composition (61.0% A + T) and harbours the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes and 1 non-coding control region. The PCGs start with the typical ATA or ATG codons and are terminated with TAA, TAG or the incomplete stop codon T. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Jinchuan yak is most closely related to Datong yak and Sunan yak.

Testis-specific genes play an essential part in the centromere union during meiosis in male germ cells, spermatogenesis, and in fertility. Previously, there was no research report available on the expression pattern of SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes in different ages of yaks. Therefore, the current research compared the expression profiling of SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes in testes of yaks. The expression pattern of SYCP3 and TSEG2 mRNA was investigated using qPCR, semi-quantitative PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, and molecular bioinformatics. Our findings displayed that SYCP3 and TSEG2 genes were prominently expressed in the testicles of yaks as compared to other organs. On the other hand, the protein encoded by yak SYCP3 contains Cor1/Xlr/Xmr conserved regions, while the protein encoded by yak TSEG2 contains synaptonemal complex central element protein 3. Additionally, multiple alignments sequences indicated that proteins encoded by Datong yak SYCP3 and TSEG2 were highly conserved among mammals. Moreover, western blot analysis specified that the molecular mass of SYCP3 protein was 34-kDa and TSEG2 protein 90-kDa in the yak. Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemistry also revealed the prominent expression of these proteins in the testis of mature yaks, which indicated that SYCP3 and TSEG2 might be essential for spermatogenesis, induction of central element assembly, and homologous recombination.

Shigaste humped cattle (Bos taurus), generated through long-term breeding, is a distinctive but threatened species native to China. This species plays an essential role in local stockbreeding and breeding newer species. Its population has been declining rapidly over the past few years owing to poor understanding of the significance of conservation of germplasm resources and the introduction of abundant species. To effectively protect and wisely utilise cattle breed resources, researchers have performed extensive studies on genetic diversity of domestic animals. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Shigaste humped cattle was successfully obtained by Illumina Hiseq Xten platform. The circular genome is 16,340 bp, which is composed of 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a control region. Base composition of the genome is A (33.4%), C (26.0%), G (13.4%), T (27.2%), with an A + T content of 60.6%. Phylogenetic relationship based on 10 mitochondrial genome sequences indicated that Shigaste humped cattle was clustered with domestic cattle from China, and was closely related to Bos indicus. This study provided detailed molecular genetic information for the conservation and utilization of cattle germplasm resources.

Background Yak (Bos grunniens) is the most important domestic animal for people living at high altitudes. Yak ordinarily feed by grazing, and this behavior impacts the accuracy of the pedigree record because it is difficult to control mating in grazing yak. This study aimed to evaluate the pedigree system and individual identification in polled yak. Methods A total of 71 microsatellite loci were selected from the literature, mostly from the studies on cattle. A total of 35 microsatellite loci generated excellent PCR results and were evaluated for the parentage testing and individual identification of 236 unrelated polled yaks. A total of 17 of these 35 microsatellite loci had polymorphic information content (PIC) values greater than 0.5, and these loci were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium without linkage disequilibrium. Results Using multiplex PCR, capillary electrophoresis, and genotyping, very high exclusion probabilities were obtained for the combined core set of 17 loci. The exclusion probability (PE) for one candidate parent when the genotype of the other parent is not known was 0.99718116. PE for one candidate parent when the genotype of the other parent is known was 0.99997381. PE for a known candidate parent pair was 0.99999998. The combined PEI (PE for identity of two unrelated individuals) and PESI (PE for identity of two siblings) were >0.99999999 and 0.99999899, respectively. These findings indicated that the combination of 17 microsatellite markers could be useful for efficient and reliable parentage testing and individual identification in polled yak. Discussion Many microsatellite loci have been investigated for cattle paternity testing. Nevertheless, these loci cannot be directly applied to yak identification because the two bovid species have different genomic sequences and organization. A total of 17 loci were selected from 71 microsatellite loci based on efficient amplification, unambiguous genotyping, and high PIC values for polled yaks, and were suitable for parentage analysis in polled yak populations.

Copy number variation (CNV) is a structural variation at the submicroscopic level of the genome, which can affect gene-related phenotypes by changing genes dosage and transcript structure. Hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase (HPGDS) is a member whose functions are closely related to weight gain and inflammatory diseases of the glutathione S-transferase (GSTs) family. In this study, the growth characteristics (body weight, withers height, body length, and chest girth) of 336 Ashidan yaks were monitored at four stages (6 months, 12 months, 18 months, and 30 months). In addition, CNV of the HPGDS gene was detected, discovered relationships of CNV with growth traits, and explored the level of gene expression. Based on the statistical analysis by IBM SPSS software, significant correlations were observed between HPGDS-CNV and body weight in 12-month-old yak (P 0.01), 18-month-old yak (P 0.001) and 30-month-old yak (P 0.001) and body length in 18-month-old yak (P 0.05) and 30-month-old yak (P 0.05), respectively. Additionally, the individuals with gain copy number type performed better in body weight and body length than those with normal or loss copy number type. To our best of knowledge, this is the first time to make efforts to probe into the role of HPGDS-CNV and its interaction with livestock growth traits. Our results suggested that the CNV of the HPGDS gene may be an active candidate gene for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) of yaks.

The Zhangmu cattle (Bos taurus) is a rare breed native to the central Himalayas, which has recently suffered drastic reduction in its population. In the present study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Zhangmu cattle was determined. The 16,340 bp circular mitochondrial genome contained a common set of 37 mitochondrial genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a control region. The gene order was identical to that of other B. taurus breeds. The overall base composition of this genome was as follows: 33.4% A, 26.0% C, 27.2% T and 13.4% G, with a total A+T content of 60.6%. Both phylogenetic trees based on the maximum likelihood and neighbor joining methods showed that Zhangmu cattle was grouped with other Asian breeds such as Korean cattle.

Anxi cattle (Bos taurus) is an endangered species native to China. It has strong adaptive abilities to harsh desert conditions such as heat, cold, and drought tolerance; disease resistance; and stable inheritance. However, it is on the brink of extinction because of its shrinking population in the past few years due to the introduction and invasion of exotic species and the lack of awareness of germplasm resource protection. Mitochondrial DNA, a well-known genetic marker, has been successfully applied to molecular phylogenetics and population genetics. This study reported a whole mitogenome for Anxi cattle (B. taurus), which was sequenced using Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform. The length of complete mitogenome of Anxi cattle (B. taurus) breed was 16,341 bp (bp), containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding control region. It also contained the origin of L-strand replication (32 bp long), which was between tRNA-Asn and tRNA-Cys. The base composition of the genome was A (33.4%), C (26.0%), G (13.4%), and T (27.2%) with an A + T content of 60.6%. The molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed four major lineages, and the Anxi cattle breed had a close genetic connection with B. taurus and B. indicus clusters but was still distinctly outside them. This study identified the phylogenetic status of Anxi cattle (B. taurus) breed and offered essential molecular genetic information for the conservation of germplasm resources.

The Kunlun Mountain type wild yak (Bos mutus) is one of the most charismatic members of the Tibet/Qinghai Plateau, but its population is reduced. In this study, the complete mitochondrial genome of Kunlun Mountain type wild yak has been determined by polymerase chain reaction method for the first time. The circular genome was 16,325 base pairs (bp), containing 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and a non-coding control region. The base composition of the genome was A (33.70%), C (25.81%), G (13.22%) and T (27.28%) with an A+T content of 60.98%. A phylogenetic analysis based on complete mitochondrial genome sequences showed that Kunlun Mountain type wild yak (Bos mutus) was closer to domesticated yaks (Bos gruuniens) and bison (Bison bison).

Background The practice of dehorning yak raises animal safety concerns, which have been addressed by selective breeding to obtain genetically hornless yak. The POLLED locus in yak has been studied extensively; however, little is known regarding the proteins that regulate horn bud development. Methods A differential proteomic analysis was performed to compare the skin from the horn bud region of polled yak fetuses and the horn bud tissue of horned yak fetuses using isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) technology coupled with 2D LC-MS/MS. Results One hundred differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) were identified. Of these, 29 were up-regulated and 71 were down-regulated in skin from the horn bud region of polled fetuses when compared to the horn bud tissue of horned fetuses. Bioinformatics analyses showed that the up-regulated DAPs were mainly associated with metabolic activities, while the down-regulated DAPs were significantly enriched in cell adhesion and cell movement activities. Conclusions We concluded that some important proteins were associated with cell adhesion, cell motility, keratinocyte differentiation, cytoskeleton organization, osteoblast differentiation, and fatty acid metabolism during horn bud development. These results advance our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying horn development. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12953-018-0141-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

In this study, we reconstructed the complete mitochondrial genome of the hybrid of Jersey cattle (Bos taurus; ♂) × Gannan yak (Bos grunniens; ♀) from Illumina sequencing reads. The mitochondrial genome is 16,322 bp in length with an A + T-biased nucleotide composition, and encodes 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNAs, and 2 rRNAs along with a noncoding control region. In addition, its gene order is identical to those of previously published mitochondrial genomes of the genera Bison and Bos. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that this hybrid is most closely related to Gannan yak and Jinchuan yak.

Tianjun yak (Bos grunniens) is a yak breed with strong adaptation to the high-elevation, cold and anoxic environments. Its complete mitochondrial genome is 16,323 bp long with an asymmetric base composition, and harbors the 37 typical mitochondrial genes and one noncoding control region. The PCGs are initiated with the typical ATA or ATG codons, and are terminated with TAA, TAG or the incomplete stop codon T––. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that Tianjun yak is most closely related to the polled yak.

Pamir yak (Bos grunniens) is a yak breed from Pamir Plateau with strong adaptation to the high-elevation, cold and anoxic environments. Its complete mitochondrial genome was determined to be 16,323...

Yak is an ancient breed and Bazhou Yak is also one of China's unique yak breed resources. In the present study, its complete mitochondrial genome was assembled from Illumina sequencing data and we identified the complete mitochondrial genome of the Bazhou yak (Bos grunniens). The complete mitochondrial DNA is a circular molecule with 16,325 bp length consisting of 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes, and a non-coding control region (D-loop). The overall nucleotide composition is A (33.69%), T (27.30%), C (25.79%), and G (13.22%), respectively. The content of C + G is 39.01%. Phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial genomes of 15 related species by MEGA7.0 showed that the genetic relationship of Bazhou yak is closer to Datong yak and polled yak.

In this study, we assembled the mitochondrial genome for Seron yak (Bos grunniens), a local yak breed with strong adaptation to marshy grasslands. The resultant mitochondrial genome is 16,325 bp long with an A + T-biased base composition (61.0% A + T) and harbours the typical set of 37 mitochondrial genes and 1 non-coding control region. The PCGs start with the typical ATA or ATG codons and are terminated with TAA, TAG or the incomplete stop codon T. Phylogenetic analysis supports the inclusion of Bison within the genus Bos, and suggests that Seron yak is most closely related to Datong yak and polled yak.

In the present study, we reported the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the hybrid from wild yak (♂) × domestic yak (♀). The mitochondrial genome is 16,322 bp in length, including the typical ...

Xueduo yak (Bos grunniens) is one of the native yak genetic resources of China. Here, the complete mitochondrial genome of the Xueduo yak was first sequenced in this study. The total length of this...

Elymus nutans is an alpine plant, which plays an important role in maintaining ecological system and the development of animal husbandry in the Tibetan region of China. However, the population of w...

Medicago sativa cv. Hangmu No.1 is the first variety of alfalfa bred by space mutation breeding in China, which characterized by high multifoliate rate, high yield, and abundant nutrients. To some extent, this space mutation alfalfa will efficiently solve the severe shortage of forage and contribute to rapid development in animal husbandry in China. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence of M. sativa cv. Hangmu No.1 was evaluated based on Illumina Hiseq 2500 platform. The circular genome was 123,825 bp in length, containing 102 genes including 75 protein-coding genes (70 PCG species), 24 transfer RNA genes (21 tRNA species) and 3 ribosomal RNA genes (3 rRNA species). Consistent with other Medicago chloroplast genomes, the M. sativa cv. Hangmu No.1 genome did not contain inverted repeat (IR) regions. Phylogenetic analysis based on 11 chloroplast genomics indicates that M. sativa cv. Hangmu No.1 is closely related to M. sativa and Medicago falcata strain. This complete chloroplast g...

Yushu yak (Bos grunniens) is a local breed of yaks with strong adaptation to the high-altitude, cold, and anoxic environments. In this study, its complete mitochondrial genome was assembled from Il...

Datong horse processes a muscular physique with high tolerance to extensive management and adapts well to high altitude conditions in Qinghai, China. In this study, the whole mitochondrial genome s...

Huanhu yak is a native yak species of China. In the present study, we reported the complete mitochondrial DNA sequence of the Huanhu yak. The complete mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule wi...

Maiwa yak is a unique local strain of yak breed resource in China. The complete mitochondrial genome was identified in this work. The mitochondrial DNA is a circular molecule with 16,324 bp in leng...

Sunan yak is one of the unique and indigenous yak species in China. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Sunan yak was first determined in this study. The mitochondrial DNA is a circul...

The domestic yak (Bos grunniens) is a culturally important animal that lives at high altitude and is farmed by Tibetan herders for its meat, milk, and other animal by-products. Within the animal, adipose tissue is an important store and source of energy and is used to maintain adequate body temperature during the extended cold seasons. Exploring the biomolecular role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of growth, development, and metabolism of yak adipocytes may provide valuable insights into the physiology of adipogenesis in the yak. This study investigated whether and how miR-200a (a miRNA recently reported to promote adipogenesis in ST2 bone marrow stromal cells) regulates adipocyte differentiation in the yak. Expression levels of miR-200a gradually increased during day 0 to day 8 of adipocyte differentiation, and transfection of adipocytes with miR-200a enhanced lipid accumulation and triglyceride content compared to control (un-transfected) adipocytes. We additionally verified (using qRT-PCR analysis) that miR-200a increased the expression of adipocyte-specific genes involved in lipogenic transcription (PPARγ, ELVOL, and C/EBPα), fatty acid synthesis (ACC, ACS, SCD, and FAS), and fatty acid transport (DGAT, LPL, and FABP4). We also found that transfection of adipocytes with miR-200a resulted in suppression of the levels of noncanonical Wnt signaling transcription factors (Wnt5a, TAK1, and NLK). These results indicate that miRNA-200a plays an important role in promoting yak adipocyte differentiation that may operate via the suppression of noncanonical Wnt signaling.

The energy available from the diet, which affects fat deposition in vivo, is a major factor in the expression of genes regulating fat deposition in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Providing high-energy diets to yaks might increase intramuscular fat deposition and fatty acid concentrations under a traditional grazing system in cold seasons. A total of fifteen adult castrated male yaks with an initial body weight 274.3 ± 3.14 kg were analyzed for intramuscular adipose deposition and fatty acid composition. The animals were divided into three groups and fed low-energy (LE: 5.5 MJ/kg), medium-energy (ME: 6.2 MJ/kg) and high-energy (HE: 6.9 MJ/kg) diets, respectively. All animals were fed ad libitum twice daily at 08:00–09:00 am and 17:00–18:00 pm and with free access to water for 74 days, including a 14-d period to adapt to the diets and the environment. Intramuscular fat (IMF) content, fatty acid profile and mRNA levels of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis were determined. The energy levels of the diets significantly (P

Yak (Bos grunniens) is an important domestic animal living in high-altitude plateaus. Due to inadequate disease prevention, each year, the yak industry suffers significant economic losses. The identification of causal genes that affect blood- and immunity-related cells could provide preliminary reference guidelines for the prevention of diseases in the population of yaks. The genome-wide association studies (GWASs) utilizing a single-marker or haplotype method were employed to analyze 15 hematological traits in the genome of 315 unrelated yaks. Single-marker GWASs identified a total of 43 significant SNPs, including 35 suggestive and eight genome-wide significant SNPs, associated with nine traits. Haplotype analysis detected nine significant haplotype blocks, including two genome-wide and seven suggestive blocks, associated with seven traits. The study provides data on the genetic variability of hematological traits in the yak. Five essential genes (GPLD1, EDNRA, APOB, HIST1H1E, and HIST1H2BI) were identified, which affect the HCT, HGB, RBC, PDW, PLT, and RDWSD traits and can serve as candidate genes for regulating hematological traits. The results provide a valuable reference to be used in the analysis of blood properties and immune diseases in the yak.

Objectives Umbilical cord mesenchymal stromal cells (UCMSCs) can be considered to become a new gold standard for MSC-based therapies. A serum and xeno-free, chemically defined and no-plate-coating-based culture system will greatly facilitate development of robust, clinically acceptable bioprocesses for reproducibly generating quality-assured UCMSCs. Materials and methods In this study, we report for the first time, such a serum-free, xeno-free, completely chemically defined and no-plate-coating-based culture system for the isolation and expansion of UCMSCs, whose biological characteristics were evaluated and compared with serum-containing medium (SCM) methods. Results This culture system not only supported UCMSC primary cultures but also allowed for their expansion at low seeding density. Compared to SCM, UCMSCs in SFM exhibited (i) higher proliferative and colony-forming capacities; (ii) distinctly different morphologies; (iii) similar phenotype; (iv) similar pluripotency-associated marker expression; (v) superior osteogenic, but reduced adipogenic differentiation capacitities. In addition, UCMSCs cultured in SFM retained similar immunomodulatory properties to those in SCM. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of isolating and expanding UCMSCs in a completely serum-free, xeno-free, chemically defined and no-plate-coating-based culture system and represent an important step forward for development of robust, clinically acceptable bioprocesses for UCMSCs. Further, this provides a superior study platform for UCMSCs biology in a controlled environment.

The absence of horns, known as the polled phenotype, is an economically important trait in modern yak husbandry, but the genomic structure and genetic basis of this phenotype have yet to be discovered. Here, we conducted a genome-wide association study with a panel of 10 horned and 10 polled yaks using whole genome sequencing. We mapped the POLLED locus to a 200-kb interval, which comprises three protein-coding genes. Further characterization of the candidate region showed recent artificial selection signals resulting from the breeding process. We suggest that expressional variations rather than structural variations in protein probably contribute to the polled phenotype. Our results not only represent the first and important step in establishing the genomic structure of the polled region in yak, but also add to our understanding of the polled trait in bovid species.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Hequ horse was determined in this study. The mitogenome is 16 656 bp in length and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 transfer RNA genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, and a D-loop region. The overall base composition of the H-strand is 32.20% for A, 28.55% for C, 13.38% for G and 25.86% for T. Tree constructed using MEGA 6 with Maximum-likelihood (ML) methods demonstrated that Hequ horse was clustered in subfamily Equidae.

Copy number variation (CNV) is a significant marker of the genetic and phenotypic diversity among individuals that accounts for complex quantitative traits of phenotype and diseases via modulating gene dosage and disrupting coding regions in the genome. Biochemically, Kruppel-like factor 6 (KLF6) genes plays a significant role in the regulation of cell differentiation and proliferation and muscle development. The aim of this study was to detect the distributions of KLF6 copy number variations (CNVs) in five breeds of domestic yak and to explore their effect on growth traits and gene expression. The data were analyzed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Our results elucidated that a decreased CNV in the KLF6 gene is more highly associated (p &lt, 0.05) with various growth traits than increased or normal CNVs in six-month-old and five-year-old Datong yak. Nevertheless, negative correlations between the DNA copy number and KLF6 gene expression were observed in the skeletal muscle of adult Datong yak. These results suggest that CNVs of the KLF6 gene could be crucial genomic markers for growth phenotypes of Chinese Datong yak breeds and this finding constitutes the first evidence of the biological role of KLF6 CNVs in Chinese Datong yak breeds.

PaLi yak is a very important local breed in China; as a year-round grazing animal, it plays a very important role for the economic and native herdsmen. The PaLi yak complete mitochondrial DNA is sequenced in this study, the total length is 16,324 bp, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, 2 rRNA genes and a non-coding control region (D-loop region). The order and composition are similar to most of the other vertebrates. The base contents are: 33.72% A, 25.80% C, 13.21% G and 27.27% T; A + T (60.99%) was higher than G + C (39.01%). The phylogenetic relationships were analyzed using the complete mitogenome sequence, results showed that the genetic relationship between yak and cattle is distinct. These information provides useful data for further study on protection of genetic resources and the taxonomy of Bovinae.

Wild yak is a special breed in China and it is regarded as an important genetic resource for sustainably developing the animal husbandry in Tibetan area and enriching region's biodiversity. The complete mitochondrial genome of wild yak (16,322 bp in length) displayed 37 typical animal mitochondrial genes and A + T-rich (61.01%), with an overall G + C content of only 38.99%. It contained a non-coding control region (D-loop), 13 protein-coding genes, two rRNA genes, and 22 tRNA genes. Most of the genes have ATG initiation codons, whereas ND2, ND3, and ND5 genes start with ATA and were encoded on H-strand. The gene order of wild yak mitogenome is identical to that observed in most other vertebrates. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of wild yak reported here could provide valuable information for developing genetic markers and phylogenetic analysis in yak.

Gannan yak is the native breed of Gansu province in China. In this work, the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Gannan yak was determined for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,322 bp long, with the base composition of 33.74% A, 25.84% T, 13.18% C, and 27.24% G. It contained 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and one non-coding region (D-loop region). The gene order of Gannan yak mitogenome is identical to that observed in most other vertebrates. The complete mitogenome sequence information of Gannan yak can provide useful data for further studies on protection of genetic resources and phylogenetic relationships within Bos grunniens.

Datong yak is a famous artificially cultivated breed in China. In the present work, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Datong yak for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome is 16,323 bp long, containing 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes and one non-coding region (D-loop region). The gene order of Datong yak mitogenome is identical to that observed in most other vertebrates. The overall base composition is 33.71% A, 25.8.0% C, 13.21% G and 27.27% T, with an A + T content of 60.98%. The complete mitogenome sequence information of Datong yak can provide useful data for further studies on molecular breeding and taxonomic status.

The Qinghai Plateau yak Bos grunniens (Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae) is an important primitive local breed in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and adjacent regions. In this study, its complete mitochondrial genome sequence has been assembled and characterized from high-throughput Illumina sequencing data. This genome is 16 322 bp in length, and contains 13 protein-coding genes, 22 tRNA genes, two rRNA genes, and a non-coding D-loop or control region. The nucleotide composition is asymmetric (33.73% A, 25.79% C, 13.19% G, and 27.29% T) with an overall A + T content of 61.02%. The gene arrangement and the composition are similar to most other vertebrates. These data would contribute to our better understanding its population genetics and evolutionary history.