Zhiyuan Cai
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Zhiyuan Cai has a total of 4 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Baohui Yao
Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences Xining Qinghai China
1 shared publication - Junhu Su
College of Grassland Science, Key Laboratory of Grassland Ecosystem (Ministry of Education), Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China; Gansu Agricultural University-Massey University Research Centre for Grassland Biodiversity, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China; Gansu Qilianshan Grassland Ecosystem Observation and Research Station, Wuwei, 733200, China
1 shared publication - Yongjie Liu
Southwest Survey and Planning Institute of National Forestry and Grassland Administration, Kunming 650216, China
1 shared publication - Yuchen Tan
College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
Seasonal piRNA Expression Profile Changes in the Testes of Plateau Zokor (Eospalax baileyi)
Seasonal reproduction is a mammalian behavior that has developed over an extended evolutionary period and requires animals to respond to external environmental changes to facilitate reproduction. In this study, we investigated the role of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) in the seasonal reproduction of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi). piRNA expression profiles in plateau zokor testes during both breeding and non-breeding seasons were examined. The piRNAs had a distinctive ping-pong signature and ranged from 27 to 32 nt with a peak at 30 nt. Testicular piRNAs predominantly aligned to specific genomic regions, including repeat and gene regions. Analysis of the piRNA–mRNA interaction network and functional enrichment of differentially expressed piRNAs targeting mRNAs revealed their association with testicular development and spermatogenesis. Significantly, PIWIL4 is an mRNA gene that interacts with piRNA and exhibits high expression levels within the testes during the non-breeding phase. This study provides a foundation to improve our understanding of piRNA regulatory mechanisms during testicular development and spermatogenesis in seasonally reproducing animals and, specifically, in the plateau zokor.
Open AccessSeasonal piRNA Expression Profile Changes in the Testes of Plateau Zokor (Eospalax baileyi)
Seasonal reproduction is a mammalian behavior that has developed over an extended evolutionary period and requires animals to respond to external environmental changes to facilitate reproduction. In this study, we investigated the role of PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA) in the seasonal reproduction of plateau zokors (Eospalax baileyi). piRNA expression profiles in plateau zokor testes during both breeding and non-breeding seasons were examined. The piRNAs had a distinctive ping-pong signature and ranged from 27 to 32 nt with a peak at 30 nt. Testicular piRNAs predominantly aligned to specific genomic regions, including repeat and gene regions. Analysis of the piRNA–mRNA interaction network and functional enrichment of differentially expressed piRNAs targeting mRNAs revealed their association with testicular development and spermatogenesis. Significantly, PIWIL4 is an mRNA gene that interacts with piRNA and exhibits high expression levels within the testes during the non-breeding phase. This study provides a foundation to improve our understanding of piRNA regulatory mechanisms during testicular development and spermatogenesis in seasonally reproducing animals and, specifically, in the plateau zokor.