Expression profiles of lincRNA and mRNA related to milk yield and milk composition traits in the milk-derived exosomes of Holstein and Doğu Anadolu Kırmızısı cows

Abstract

This study aimed to demonstrate the expression profiles of lincRNAs and mRNAs affecting milk yield and composition traitsin the milk-derived exosomes of Holstein and Doğu Anadolu Kırmızısı (DAK) cows. For this purpose, the locations of these specificlincRNAs and mRNAs were confirmed in quantitative trait loci. Then RT-PCR analysis was performed to identify the expression profilesof the lincRNAs and mRNAs. Lastly, correlation analysis was carried out between milk yield data from Holstein and DAK cows andexpression levels of the lincRNAs and mRNAs. The findings showed that while lincRNAs and mRNAs associated with milk yield traitswere upregulated in the Holstein cows exhibiting high milk yield in comparison to the DAK cows exhibiting low milk yield, lincRNAand mRNA associated with milk composition traits were downregulated in the Holstein cows with high milk yield compared to theDAK cows with low milk yield. These results suggest primary evidence for expression profiles of lincRNA and mRNA related to milkproduction traits in the milk-derived exosomes of Holstein and DAK cows. These lincRNAs and mRNAs, which are carried in the milkderivedexosomes, could be utilized in animal breeding programs to enhance milk yield and composition traits.