Identification and Molecular Analysis of mA-circRNAs from Cashmere Goat Reveal Their Integrated Regulatory Network and Putative Functions in Secondary Hair Follicle during Anagen Stage.

-methyladenosine (mA) is the most abundant modification in linear RNA molecules. Over the last few years, interestingly, many circRNA molecules are also found to have extensive mA modification sites with temporal and spatial specific expression patterns. To date, however, little information is available concerning the expression profiling and functional regulatory characteristics of mA modified circRNAs (mA-circRNAs) in secondary hair follicles (SHFs) of cashmere goats.

CircRNA-0100 positively regulates the differentiation of cashmere goat SHF-SCs into hair follicle lineage via sequestering miR-153-3p to heighten the KLF5 expression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have stable structures, being a covalently closed loop without 5 and 3 free ends. They can function as "miRNA sponges" in regulating the expression of their target genes. It was thought that circRNAs are involved in the development of the secondary hair follicle (SHF) in cashmere goats.

CircRNA-1967 participates in the differentiation of goat SHF-SCs into hair follicle lineage by sponging miR-93-3p to enhance LEF1 expression.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel class of non-coding RNAs, can interact with miRNAs through a sequence-driven sponge mechanism, thereby regulating the expression of their downstream target genes. CircRNA-1967 was found in secondary hair follicles (SHFs) of cashmere goats, but its functions are not clear. Here, we showed that both circRNA-1967 and its host gene BNC2 had significantly higher expression in SHF bulge at anagen than those at telogen of cashmere goats.