Thesis
RNA VARIATION AS A DRIVER OF GENOMIC FUNCTION AND COMPLEXITY: INSIGHTS FROM ALTERNATIVE POLYADENYLATION SITE USAGE AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN KARAKUL SHEEP
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2025
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism in mammals is often attributed to differential gene expression between males and females, despite both sexes sharing nearly identical autosomal genomes. One of the key mechanisms contributing to these expression differences lies in post-transcriptional regulation. Among these, Alternative Polyadenylation (APA), a process that alters the length of the 3′ untranslated regions (3′UTRs) of mRNA transcripts, has emerged as a pivotal contributor to transcriptome complexity, mRNA stability, localization, and translational efficiency. Through differential selection of polyadenylation sites, APA modulates the inclusion of regulatory elements such as microRNA binding sites and RNA-binding protein motifs, influencing gene expression outcomes without changing the underlying DNA sequence.This thesis investigates the role of APA in generating sexually dimorphic patterns of gene expression across multiple tissues in male and female Karakul sheep (Ovis aries). Using high-throughput RNA sequencing and bioinformatic analyses, mRNA expression profiles and APA site usage were quantified across several somatic and reproductive tissues. By comparing APA landscapes between the sexes, this study aims to determine whether sex-specific APA patterns contribute to differential gene regulation in the absence of genomic divergence on autosomes. Understanding these dynamics will not only deepen our knowledge of transcriptomic complexity in livestock species but may also shed light on broader principles of sexual dimorphism and post-transcriptional gene regulation in mammals.
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Details
- Title
- RNA VARIATION AS A DRIVER OF GENOMIC FUNCTION AND COMPLEXITY: INSIGHTS FROM ALTERNATIVE POLYADENYLATION SITE USAGE AND SEXUAL DIMORPHISM IN KARAKUL SHEEP
- Creators
- Michee van Rooyen
- Contributors
- Zhihua Dr. Jiang (Advisor)Martin Dr. Maquivar (Committee Member)Nate Dr. Law (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 130
- Identifiers
- 99901357898301842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis