Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) is a key transcription factor that regulates lipogenesis in rodent liver. Two isoforms (SREBP-1a and SREBP-1c) of SREBP-1 are transcribed by an alternative promoter on the same gene (SREBF1), and the isoforms differ only in their first exon. Although the regulatory effects of SREBP-1 on lipid and milk fat synthesis have received much attention in ruminants, SREBP-1c promoter and its regulatory mechanisms have not been characterized in the goat. In the present study, we cloned and sequenced a 2,012-bp fragment of the SREBP-1c 5'-flanking region from goat genomic DNA. A luciferase reporter assay revealed that SREBP-1c is transcriptionally activated by the liver X receptor α (LXRα) agonist T0901317, and is decreased by SREBP-1 small interfering (si)RNA. A 5' deletion analysis revealed a core promoter region located -395 to +1 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site (TSS). Site-directed mutagenesis of LXRα binding elements (LXRE1 and LXRE2) and sterol regulatory elements (SRE1 and SRE2) revealed that the full effects of T 4506585 require the presence of both LXRE and SRE. We also characterized a new SRE (SRE1) and demonstrated a direct role of SREBP-1 (auto-loop regulation) in maintaining its basal transcription activity. Results suggest that goat SREBP-1c gene is transcriptionally regulated by mature SREBP-1 (auto-loop circuit regulation) and LXRα in goat mammary epithelial cells.

The trans-10,cis-12 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid (t10c12-CLA) is a biohydrogenation intermediate in the rumen and has been shown to cause milk fat depression in dairy goats. However, few studies have focused on the in vitro molecular mechanisms involved in the response of the goat mammary gland to t10c12-CLA. In the present study, RNA sequencing technology was used to investigate the effects of t10c12-CLA on goat mammary epithelial cells. From the data, 25,153 annotated transcripts were obtained, and differentially expressed genes were selected based on a false discovery rate <0.05. Candidate genes and potent cellular signaling pathways were identified through Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway analysis. Next, real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses were used to verify the results of the RNA sequencing data. The results indicated that t10c12-CLA inhibits fatty acid synthesis through downregulation of genes involved in de novo fatty acid synthesis, and this process is likely correlated with the activation of the AMP-activated protein kinase signaling pathways.

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