Tissue-specific expression, functional analysis, and polymorphism of the KRT2 gene in sheep horn

Hao Yang; Mingxing Chu; Naominggaowa; Xiaoxu Zhang; Mingzhu Shan; Xiaoning Lu; Zhangyuan Pan; Jianning He

doi:10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.110990

Tissue-specific expression, functional analysis, and polymorphism of the KRT2 gene in sheep horn

Genomics. 2025 Jan 4:110990. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.110990. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Hao Yang¹, Mingxing Chu², Naominggaowa³, Xiaoxu Zhang², Mingzhu Shan¹, Xiaoning Lu², Zhangyuan Pan⁴, Jianning He⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
² State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China.
³ Otog Front Banner Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Technology Promotion Center, Ordos 016200, China.
⁴ State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China. Electronic address: zhypan01@163.com.
⁵ College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China. Electronic address: hexingxing104@163.com.

PMID: 39761764
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2025.110990

Abstract

Horn is a defensive weapon of sheep, consisting of a horny sheath and a bony core. The KRT2 gene is related to keratinization of the epidermis, so it is likely to be one of the contributor genes affecting horn type in sheep. In this study, we first analyzed the species-specific and tissue-specific expression of the KRT2 gene using transcriptome sequencing data. Then, by comparing the protein sequences of 20 species, we identified 28 specific amino acid sites in Artiodactyla animals, constructed a phylogenetic tree of the KRT2 gene, and predicted its three-dimensional protein structure. Finally, whole genome sequencing data was used and mined 4 functional SNP sites of KRT2 gene, and use KASP assay to verify the loci. In addition, we explored the relationship between the KRT2 gene and the evolution of Artiodactyla animals, and predicted the possible mechanism by which the KRT2 gene affects the horn type of sheep.

Keywords: Evolution; Horn; KRT2; SNP; Sheep.