Genome‐wide comparison of DNA methylation patterns between yak and three cattle strains and their potential association with mRNA transcription

Abstract

Yak has evolved specific adaptative mechanisms to high‐altitude environment. Up to date, only a few studies reported the DNA methylation in yak. In the present study, genome‐wide DNA methylome and transcriptome profiles in lung, mammary, and biceps brachii muscle tissues were compared between yak and three cattle breeds (Tibetan cattle, Sanjiang cattle, and Holstein cattle). The association between differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially methylated regions (DMRs) was analyzed, and the biological functions of DEGs potentially driven by DMRs were explored by KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, we found that yak‐specific DMRs‐driven DEGs were mainly involved in neuromodulation, respiration, lung development, blood pressure regulation, cardiovascular protection, energy metabolism, DNA repair, and immune functions. The higher levels of the key genes associated with these functions were observed in yak than in cattle, suggesting that DNA methylation might regulate these genes. Overall, the present study contributes basic data at the DNA methylation level to further understand the physiological metabolism in yak.

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiles regulate distinct heat stress response in zebu (Bos indicus) and crossbred (Bos indicus × Bos taurus) cattle

“… 26 , 34 Similarly, distinct genome-wide DNA methylation patterns observed in different cattle breeds (Holstein cattle, Tibetan cattle and Sanjiang cattle). 35 These findings collectively indicate that DNA methylation patterns may contribute to differences in some of the phenotypic traits, including adaptation to distinct environmental stressors.…”

Transcriptome-Wide Study of mRNAs and lncRNAs Modified by m6A RNA Methylation in the Longissimus Dorsi Muscle Development of Cattle-Yak

“…Interestingly, the expression levels of these two lncRNAs decreased with the reduction of m 6 A abundance, indicating that m 6 A-enriched lncRNAs may play a crucial role in the early growth and development of cattle-yaks, but the functional mechanism of m 6 A-modified lncRNAs in skeletal muscle development needs further exploration. In addition, there was a noteworthy phenomenon that the DEL targets were not only significantly enriched in muscle-related pathways, but also significantly enriched in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy pathways that was not enriched in previous studies of DNA methylation on yaks [ 81 , 82 ]. Long-term living in high altitude areas may cause myocardial hypertrophy and other high-altitude sicknesses.…”