Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis reveals lactation performance between Sewa sheep and East Friesian sheep.

Wentao Li; Jiamin Xu; Jiashun Sheng; Pengbo Li; Zuoke Zhang; Xin Luo; Tianzeng Song; Tong Fu; Tengyun Gao; Tianliu Zhang; Yu Sun

doi:10.1016/j.ygeno.2026.111299

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Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis reveals lactation performance between Sewa sheep and East Friesian sheep.

Wentao Li·Jiamin Xu·Jiashun Sheng·Pengbo Li·Zuoke Zhang·Xin Luo·Tianzeng Song·Tong Fu·Tengyun Gao·Tianliu Zhang·Yu Sun

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Abstract

Lactation performance is a pivotal economic trait in sheep production, yet its underlying epigenetic regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In the present study, we integrated ATAC-seq and RNA-seq to compare chromatin accessibility landscapes and transcriptomic in mammary gland tissues from Sewa sheep (SWS) and East Friesian sheep (EFS). Histological characterization revealed that SWS exhibited significantly smaller mammary acini area, smaller lipid droplet area, and reduced lipid droplet diameter compared to EFS. ATAC-seq analysis identified 15,902 differentially accessible regions (DARs) between the two breeds, with motif enrichment analysis uncovering key transcription factors potentially governing lactation traits. RNA-seq analysis revealed 1,163 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were involved in lactation regulation. Integrated analysis identified 441 overlapping genes, and enriched in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis (e.g., PGAM1, ENO1) and pyruvate metabolism (e.g., ACACA, ACSS1, ACYP1). Collectively, our study provides new insights into the epigenetic regulatory mechanisms underlying lactation performance differences in sheep.

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Animals Lactation Female Sheep Mammary Glands, Animal RNA-Seq Transcriptome Epigenesis, Genetic Transcription Factors Sequence Analysis, RNA ATAC-seq East Friesian sheep Mammary gland RNA-seq Sewa sheep Journal Article

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Wentao Li, Jiamin Xu, Jiashun Sheng, Pengbo Li, Zuoke Zhang, Xin Luo, Tianzeng Song, Tong Fu, Tengyun Gao, Tianliu Zhang, Yu Sun. 2026-07-29. Integrative ATAC-seq and RNA-seq analysis reveals lactation performance between Sewa sheep and East Friesian sheep.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ygeno.2026.111299

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