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Simple Summary: The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with different protein levels after grazing on growth performance as well as on the proteomics of the LL muscle of Jersey-yak. The results showed that a certain amount of crude protein supplementation to Jersey-yak at the end of grazing significantly improved growth performance and increased their economic efficiency. In addition, we analyzed the proteomic differences in the longest dorsal muscle of Jersey-yak. From our analyses, we identified differences in the abundance of 434 proteins involved in pathways related to muscle growth and development and energy metabolism, among others. Several of the proteins enriched in these pathways, such as MYH8, are associated with myoblast development and differentiation as well as muscle development. In conclusion, the results of this study provide proteomic insights into the different feeding patterns of yak crossbred progeny, suggesting that a greater economic income can be achieved by improving their feeding conditions. Jersey-yak is a hybrid offspring of Jersey cattle and yak (Bos grunniens). Changing the feeding system of Jersey-yak can significantly improve its growth performance. In this study, tandem mass tag (TMT) proteomics technology was used to determine the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle of Jersey-yak fed different protein levels of diet. The results showed that compared with the traditional grazing feeding, the growth performance of Jersey-yaks was significantly improved by crude protein supplementation after grazing. A total of 3368 proteins were detected in these muscle samples, of which 3365 were quantified. A total of 434 DEPs were identified. Through analyses, it was found that some pathways related to muscle growth and development were significantly enriched, such as Rap1 signaling pathway, mTOR signaling pathway, and TGF-beta signaling pathway. A number of DEPs enriched in these pathways are related to muscle cell development, differentiation, and muscle development, including integrin subunit alpha 7 (ITGA7), myosin heavy chain 8 (MYH8), and collagen type XII alpha 1 chain (COL12A1). In conclusion, the results of this study provide insights into the proteomics of different feeding patterns of Jersey-yak, providing a stronger basis for further understanding the biological mechanism of hybrid varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle-yak is a hybrid F1 generation of cattle and yak, which has a history of more than 3000 years and has shown better production performance and higher economic benefits than those of yaks. However, up to now, there has been no study on the transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profile of bovine skeletal muscle and its potential biological function during muscle development. Here, we observed significant changes in the expression levels of muscle-related marker genes and methylation-related enzymes during the development of cattle-yak, and the overall m6A content in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of 18-month-old cattle-yak decreased significantly. A total of 36,602 peaks, 11,223 genes and 8388 lncRNAs were identified in the two groups, including 2989 differential peaks (427 up-regulated peaks and 2562 down-regulated peaks), 1457 differentially expressed genes (833 up-regulated genes and 624 down-regulated genes) and 857 differentially expressed lncRNAs (293 up-regulated lncRNAs and 564 down-regulated lncRNAs). GO and KEGG analysis revealed that they were significantly enriched in some muscle-related pathways (Wnt signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway) and high-altitude adaptation-related pathway (HIF-1 signaling pathway). Moreover, m6A abundance was positively correlated with gene expression levels, while it was negatively correlated with lncRNA expression levels. This indicates that m6A modification played an important role in the Longissimus dorsi muscle development of cattle-yak; however, the regulation mechanism of m6A-modified mRNA and lncRNA may be different. This study was the first report of transcriptome-wide m6A-modified mRNAs and lncRNAs atlas in the Longissimus dorsi muscle development of cattle-yak, one which will provide new perspectives for genetic improvement in bovines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the involvement of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (LUADT1) LUADT1 in diabetic retinopathy (DR). We found LUADT1 may interact with miR-383 by RNA interaction prediction. QPCR analysis showed that lncRNA LUADT1 was downregulated, and miR-383 was upregulated in DR. However, correlation analysis revealed no significant correlation between them. In retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPEpiC, h1RPE7 from Sigma-Aldrich), overexpression of LUADT1 and miR-383 failed to affect the expression of each other. However, LUADT1 overexpression led to increased and miR-383 overexpression led to decreased expression level of peroxiredoxin 3 (PRX3). Cell apoptosis analysis showed that LUADT1 and PRX3 overexpression resulted in the decreased cell apoptosis. MiR-383 played an opposite role and reduced the effects of LUADT1 and PRX3 overexpression. Therefore, LUADT1 regulates PRX3 by serving as the endogenous sponge of miR-383 in DR to regulate cell apoptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The CNV of the AHR gene was verified by the real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). • Copy number variations have greater effects on animal performance than single nucleotide polymorphisms. • AHR gene may be used as a new molecular marker in yak breeding. Copy number variation (CNV) is a principal genomic structure variation affecting the gene expression through the dose-effect and change of gene regulatory region. It plays an important role in regulating the various complex traits of vertebrates. The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a member of ligand-dependent transcription factors which belong to the alkaline helix-loop-helix PASS family. It is used as a conservative environmental sensor during biological evolution. This study, tracked the growth data (body weight, withers height, body length, chest girth) of 332 yaks in four stages (6, 12, 18, and 30 months) were tracked. The CNV of the yaks was analyzed using real-time quantitative PCR, and the correlation between CNV of AHR and yak growth traits was analyzed using the SPSS and R software. The AHR gene expression profiles were assessed in different tissues of the 18-month-old yak. The statistical analysis indicated the AHR -CNV of the Ashidan yak to significantly correlate with the body length (P < 0.05), and was found to be correlated with the withers height at 18 months old (P < 0.01) with extreme significance. To sum up, this study for the first time discussed the relationship between AHR -CNV and the growth traits of the Ashidan yak. The results indicated that the AHR gene might become a new molecular marker in the breeding yak. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented with discusses the occurence of higher serum vaspin concentrations among patients with obese type2 diabetes mellitus.

Simple Summary: Yaks are among the largest high-altitude mammals in the world, and they are ideally adapted to the harsh environmental conditions of the plateau regions. Yaks are thus central to the lives of herdsmen and other local populations in these high-altitude areas. Copy number variations (CNVs) are an important cause of genomic variation in livestock and identifying advantageous CNVs can aid in livestock breeding efforts. In this study, an association between CNVs in the MICALL2 and MOGAT2 genes and Ashidan yak growth traits was confirmed, providing a theoretical foundation for Ashidan yak breeding and meat production efforts. Copy number variations (CNVs) are a result of genomic rearrangement affecting DNA regions over 1 kb in length, and can include inversions, translocations, deletions, and duplications. The molecule interacting with CasL-like protein 2 (MICALL2) gene is primarily associated with mitochondrial protein targeting and exhibits predicted stress fiber colocalization. The monoacylglycerol O-acyltransferase 2 (MOGAT2) gene encodes an enzyme responsible for catalyzing diacylglycerol synthesis from 2-monoacylglycerol and fatty acyl-CoA. For this study, blood samples were obtained from 315 yaks, and the body weight, body length, withers height, and chest girth of these animals were measured at 6, 12, 18, and 30 months of age. Genomic DNA was harvested from the collected blood samples, and CNVs in these samples were detected by qPCR. The resultant data were compared using ANOVAs, revealing significant associations between MICALL2 gene CNVs and body weight at 6 months of age (p < 0.05), body length and chest girth at 30 months of age (p < 0.05), and withers height at 18 months of age (p < 0.01) in Ashidan yaks. Similarly, MOGAT2 CNVs were significantly associated with body weight at 6 and 30 months of age (p < 0.05), and with withers height at 18 months of age (p < 0.01) in these Ashidan yaks. MICALL2 and MOGAT2 gene expression was further analyzed in yak tissue samples, revealing that MICALL2 was most highly expressed in the adipose tissue, whereas MOGAT2 was most highly expressed in the lung. These results thus confirmed the relationship between CNVs in the MICALL2 and MOGAT2 genes and Ashidan yak growth traits, providing a valuable gene locus that can be leveraged for future marker-assisted yak breeding efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle-yak, which is the hybrid F 1 generation of cattle and yak, demonstrates better production performance compared to yak. However, there is limited research on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the muscle development of cattle-yak. To address this knowledge gap, a comprehensive transcriptomic survey of the longissimus dorsi muscle in cattle-yak was conducted. Three transcript types, namely lncRNAs, miRNAs, and circRNAs, along with protein-coding genes were characterized at two developmental stages (6 m, 18 m) of cattle-yak. The results revealed significant enrichment of these transcripts into pathways related to myoblast differentiation and muscle development signaling. Additionally, the study identified the TCONS00024465/circHIPK3-bta-miR-499- ADAMTS6 regulatory network, which may play a crucial role in the muscle development of cattle-yak by combining the transcriptome data of yak and constructing the ceRNA co-expression network. HEK 293 T cells were used to validate that TCONS00024465 and circHIPK3 are located upstream of bta-miR-499, and can competitively bind to bta-miR-499 as ceRNA. The study also verified that ADAMTS6 regulates skeletal muscle development by inhibiting myoblast proliferation, promoting myoblast differentiation, and positively regulating the apoptosis of myoblasts. Taken together, this study provides new insights into the advantages of cattle-yak production performance and offers a molecular basis for further research on muscle development. • Cattle-yak, as the hybrid animal, exhibits better production performance compared to yak. • The first transcriptome profile of cattle-yak revealed the key role of TCONS00024465/circHIPK3-bta-miR-499- ADAMTS6 regulatory network. • TCONS00024465 and circHIPK3 competitively bind bta-miR-499, thereby targeting ADAMTS6. • ADAMTS6 regulates skeletal muscle development by inhibiting myoblast proliferation and promoting myoblast differentiation. • New insights into the molecular basis of cattle-yak muscle development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The SOX6 (sex determining region Y-box 6) gene belongs to one of the transcription factors in the SRY (sex-determining region Y) family, which affects sex determination, embryonic and nervous system development, bone and various organ formation. In the previous study, the whole-genome sequencing was used to detect multiple genes located in the copy number variation region, including SOX6 gene. In this study, we identified the correlation between the growth traits and CNV of SOX6 in 311 Ashidan yaks. The results showed that SOX6-CNV was significantly correlated with the chest girth of the 6-months old yaks (p < 0.05) and 30-months yaks (p < 0.05), and withers height of 6 months yaks (p < 0.05) and 18-months yaks (p < 0.05), suggesting the SOX6-CNV affect growth traits in yaks, and could be new markers for the selection of yak breeding. Copy number variation (CNV) is a fundamental type of structural variation of the genome affecting the economic traits of livestock. The SOX6 gene (sex-determining region Y-box 6), as a transcription factor, has multiple functions with regard to sex determination, embryonic growth, the nervous system development, as well as bone, and various organ formation. This study employed quantitative real-time fluorescence quota PCR (qPCR) for detecting the SOX6-CNV of the 311 Ashidan yaks and analyzed the correlation of the SOX6-CNV with four phenotypes (including body weight, withers height, body length, and chest girth) of the yaks aged 6, 12, 18, and 30 months using ANOVA and multiple comparisons. Furthermore, the SOX6 gene expression was identified in seven different tissues of the yaks. The experiment results demonstrated the expression of SOX6 in each tissue, and the kidney and muscle tissue were found to have higher relative expression levels. Based on the processing by IBM SPSS software, SOX6-CNV was significantly correlated with the chest girth of the 6-months old yaks (p < 0.05) and 30-months yaks (p < 0.05), and withers height of 6 months yaks (p < 0.05) and 18-months yaks (p < 0.05), as well as the normal type of CNV, was chosen for yak breeding. In conclusion, SOX6 might be prominently involved in promoting growth and development of yaks, suggesting that the SOX6 gene can be used in breeding yaks by molecular marker-assisted selection (MAS). The study also offered some important insights into the references and clues for the genetic breeding of yaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]