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Zhang L, Zhu Y, Ren Y, Xu L, Liu X, Qi X, Jiao T, Sun G, Han H, Zhang J, Sun F, Yang Y, Zhao S. Genetic characterization of Tibetan pigs adapted to high altitude under natural selection based on a large whole-genome dataset. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17062. [PMID: 39048584 PMCID: PMC11269713 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65559-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a valuable genetic resource pool, and the high-altitude adaptation of Tibetan pigs is a classic example of the adaptive evolution of domestic animals. Here, we report the presence of Darwinian positive selection signatures in Tibetan pigs (TBPs) using 348 genome-wide datasets (127 whole-genome sequence datasets (WGSs) and 221 whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip datasets). We characterized a high-confidence list of genetic signatures related response to high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan pigs, including 4,598 candidate SNPs and 131 candidate genes. Functional annotation and enrichment analysis revealed that 131 candidate genes are related to multiple systems and organs in Tibetan pigs. Notably, eight of the top ten novel genes, RALB, NBEA, LIFR, CLEC17A, PRIM2, CDH7, GK5 and FAM83B, were highlighted and associated with improved adaptive heart functions in Tibetan pigs high-altitude adaptation. Moreover, genome-wide association analysis revealed that 29 SNPs were involved in 13 candidate genes associated with at least one adaptive trait. In particular, among the top ten candidate genes, CLEC17A is related to a reduction in hemoglobin (HGB) in Tibetan pigs. Overall, our study provides a robust SNP/gene list involving genetic adaptation for Tibetan pig high-altitude adaptation, and it will be a valuable resource for future Tibetan pig studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingyun Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanbin Zhu
- Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Lhasa, China
| | - Yue Ren
- Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Lhasa, China
| | - Linna Xu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuanbo Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xuebin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, China
| | - Ting Jiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
- College of Grassland Science, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guangming Sun
- Academy of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Lhasa, China
| | - Haiyu Han
- The Animal Husbandry Station in Changdu, Changdu, China
| | - Jian Zhang
- The Beast Prevention Station in Gongbujiangda County, Linzhi, China
| | - Fengbo Sun
- The Animal Husbandry Station in Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, China
| | - Yanan Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shengguo Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China.
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Wu X, Xiang D, Zhang W, Ma Y, Zhao G, Yin Z. Identification of Breed-Specific SNPs of Danish Large White Pig in Comparison with Four Chinese Local Pig Breed Genomes. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:623. [PMID: 38790252 PMCID: PMC11120843 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic variation facilitates the evolution, environmental adaptability, and biodiversity of organisms. Danish Large White (LW) pigs have more desirable phenotypes compared with local Chinese pigs, which have difficulty adapting to the modern swine industry. However, the genome-wide mutational differences between these pig breeds are yet to be evaluated. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate genomic variation and identify breed-specific SNPs in Danish LW pigs. Here, 43 LW, 15 Diqing Tibetan (DQZ), and 15 Diannan small-ear (DN) pigs whose genomes were re-sequenced with 5× depth were selected. This was followed by a conjoined analysis of our previous resequencing data of 24 Anqing six-end white (AQ) and six Asian wild (SS) pigs. In total, 39,158,378 SNPs and 13,143,989 insertion-deletions were obtained in all breeds. The variation number of LW pigs was the lowest, with 287,194 breed-specific and 1289 non-synonymous SNPs compared with Chinese breeds. Functional analysis of the breed-specific non-synonymous SNPs indicated that these mutations were mainly associated with the reproductive performance, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio of LW pigs. These findings provide a theoretical basis for genetic improvements in the Chinese swine industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Wu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Decai Xiang
- Yunnan Academy of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Kunming 650224, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Product Safety Engineering, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei 230001, China
| | - Yu Ma
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Local Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Guiying Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zongjun Yin
- Anhui Provincial Laboratory of Local Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Bio-Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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Jung JH, Lee SM, Oh SH. A genome-wide association study on growth traits of Korean commercial pig breeds using Bayesian methods. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:807-816. [PMID: 38637973 PMCID: PMC11065719 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aims to identify the significant regions and candidate genes of growth-related traits (adjusted backfat thickness [ABF], average daily gain [ADG], and days to 90 kg [DAYS90]) in Korean commercial GGP pig (Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire) populations. METHODS A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for imputation to Illumina PorcineSNP60. The BayesB method was applied to calculate thresholds for the significance of SNP markers. The identified windows were considered significant if they explained ≥1% genetic variance. RESULTS A total of 28 window regions were related to genetic growth effects. Bayesian GWAS revealed 28 significant genetic regions including 52 informative SNPs associated with growth traits (ABF, ADG, DAYS90) in Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire pigs, with genetic variance ranging from 1.00% to 5.46%. Additionally, 14 candidate genes with previous functional validation were identified for these traits. CONCLUSION The identified SNPs within these regions hold potential value for future markerassisted or genomic selection in pig breeding programs. Consequently, they contribute to an improved understanding of genetic architecture and our ability to genetically enhance pigs. SNPs within the identified regions could prove valuable for future marker-assisted or genomic selection in pig breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sang Min Lee
- National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Cheonan, 31000,
Korea
| | - Sang-Hyon Oh
- Division of Animal Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52725,
Korea
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Morris KM, Sutton K, Girma M, Sánchez-Molano E, Solomon B, Esatu W, Dessie T, Vervelde L, Psifidi A, Hanotte O, Banos G. Phenotypic and genomic characterisation of performance of tropically adapted chickens raised in smallholder farm conditions in Ethiopia. Front Genet 2024; 15:1383609. [PMID: 38706792 PMCID: PMC11066160 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1383609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Background In sub-Saharan Africa, 80% of poultry production is on smallholder village farms, where chickens are typically reared outdoors in free-ranging conditions. There is limited knowledge on chickens' phenotypic characteristics and genetics under these conditions. Objective The present is a large-scale study set out to phenotypically characterise the performance of tropically adapted commercial chickens in typical smallholder farm conditions, and to examine the genetic profile of chicken phenotypes associated with growth, meat production, immunity, and survival. Methods A total of 2,573 T451A dual-purpose Sasso chickens kept outdoors in emulated free-ranging conditions at the poultry facility of the International Livestock Research Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were included in the study. The chickens were raised in five equally sized batches and were individually monitored and phenotyped from the age of 56 days for 8 weeks. Individual chicken data collected included weekly body weight, growth rate, body and breast meat weight at slaughter, Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) titres and intestinal Immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels recorded at the beginning and the end of the period of study, and survival rate during the same period. Genotyping by sequencing was performed on all chickens using a low-coverage and imputation approach. Chicken phenotypes and genotypes were combined in genomic association analyses. Results We discovered that the chickens were phenotypically diverse, with extensive variance levels observed in all traits. Batch number and sex of the chicken significantly affected the studied phenotypes. Following quality assurance, genotypes consisted of 2.9 million Single Nucleotide Polymorphism markers that were used in the genomic analyses. Results revealed a largely polygenic mode of genetic control of all phenotypic traits. Nevertheless, 15 distinct markers were identified that were significantly associated with growth, carcass traits, NDV titres, IgA levels, and chicken survival. These markers were located in regions harbouring relevant annotated genes. Conclusion Results suggest that performance of chickens raised under smallholder farm conditions is amenable to genetic improvement and may inform selective breeding programmes for enhanced chicken productivity in sub-Saharan Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrina M. Morris
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Kate Sutton
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Mekonnen Girma
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | | | - Bersabhe Solomon
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Wondmeneh Esatu
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Tadelle Dessie
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Lonneke Vervelde
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
| | - Androniki Psifidi
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
- Royal Veterinary College, Hatfield, United Kingdom
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Georgios Banos
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, United Kingdom
- Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC), Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Midlothian, United Kingdom
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Park J. Genome-wide association study to reveal new candidate genes using single-step approaches for productive traits of Yorkshire pig in Korea. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:451-460. [PMID: 38271983 PMCID: PMC10915189 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective is to identify genomic regions and candidate genes associated with age to 105 kg (AGE), average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF), and eye muscle area (EMA) in Yorkshire pig. METHODS This study used a total of 104,380 records and 11,854 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data obtained from Illumina porcine 60K chip. The estimated genomic breeding values (GEBVs) and SNP effects were estimated by single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP). RESULTS The heritabilities of AGE, ADG, BF, and EMA were 0.50, 0.49, 0.49, and 0.23, respectively. We identified significant SNP markers surpassing the Bonferroni correction threshold (1.68×10-6), with a total of 9 markers associated with both AGE and ADG, and 4 markers associated with BF and EMA. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) analyses revealed notable chromosomal regions linked to AGE and ADG on Sus scrofa chromosome (SSC) 1, 6, 8, and 16; BF on SSC 2, 5, and 8; and EMA on SSC 1. Additionally, we observed strong linkage disequilibrium on SSC 1. Finally, we performed enrichment analyses using gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG), which revealed significant enrichments in eight biological processes, one cellular component, one molecular function, and one KEGG pathway. CONCLUSION The identified SNP markers for productive traits are expected to provide valuable information for genetic improvement as an understanding of their expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Park
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Jeonbuk National University, Jeonju 54896,
Korea
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Ewaoluwagbemiga EO, Bee G, Kasper C. Genetic analysis of protein efficiency and its association with performance and meat quality traits under a protein-restricted diet. Genet Sel Evol 2023; 55:35. [PMID: 37268880 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-023-00812-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An essential component in the development of sustainable pig production is the reduction of nitrogen excretion in fattening pigs. Pig feeds typically contain high levels of dietary crude protein, and due to incomplete conversion to muscle tissue, excess nitrogen is excreted, resulting in environmental problems such as nitrate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, improving protein efficiency (PE), i.e., the proportion of dietary protein that remains in the carcass, is desirable. The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability (h2) of PE and its genetic correlations with phosphorus efficiency, three performance, seven meat quality and two carcass quality traits when pigs were fed a 20% protein-restricted diet, using 1071 Swiss Large White pigs. To determine PE, the intake of feed with known nutrient content was accurately recorded for each pig and the nitrogen and phosphorus content of the carcass was determined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS We found an average PE of 0.39 ± 0.04 and a heritability of 0.54 ± 0.10. PE showed a high genetic correlation with phosphorus efficiency (0.61 ± 0.16), moderate genetic correlations with feed conversion ratio (- 0.55 ± 0.14) and average daily feed intake (- 0.53 ± 0.14), and a low genetic correlation with average daily gain (- 0.19 ± 0.19). While PE has favourable genetic correlations with the performance traits and some meat quality traits, there is a potentially unfavourable correlation of PE with meat colour (redness [rg = - 0.27 ± 0.17]; yellowness [rg = - 0.31 ± 0.18]) and intra-muscular fat (IMF; rg = - 0.39 ± 0.15). Feed conversion ratio (FCR) also showed unfavourable genetic correlations with meat lightness, redness yellowness, IMF and cooking loss. CONCLUSIONS PE is a heritable trait that can be considered in breeding programs to reduce the environmental impact of pig production. We found no strong negative correlation of PE with meat quality traits, and that there is potential to indirectly select for improved phosphorus efficiency. Selecting nutrient efficiencies might be a more suitable strategy to reduce nitrogen pollution from manure than focusing on FCR because the latter also shows genetic antagonism with some meat quality traits in our population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Oluwada Ewaoluwagbemiga
- Animal GenoPhenomics, Agroscope, 1725, Posieux, Switzerland
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Bee
- Swine Research Unit, Agroscope, 1725, Posieux, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Kasper
- Animal GenoPhenomics, Agroscope, 1725, Posieux, Switzerland.
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Zhu S, Si J, Zhang H, Qi W, Zhang G, Yan X, Huang Y, Zhao M, Guo Y, Liang J, Lan G. Comparative Serum Proteome Analysis Indicates a Negative Correlation between a Higher Immune Level and Feed Efficiency in Pigs. Vet Sci 2023; 10:vetsci10050338. [PMID: 37235421 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci10050338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying and verifying appropriate biomarkers is instrumental in improving the prediction of early-stage pig production performance while reducing the cost of breeding and production. The main factor that affects the production cost and environmental protection cost of the pig industry is the feed efficiency of pigs. This study aimed to detect the differentially expressed proteins in the early blood index determination serum between high-feed efficiency and low-feed efficiency pigs and to provide a basis for further identification of biomarkers using the isobaric tandem mass tag and parallel reaction monitoring approach. In total, 350 (age, 90 ± 2 d; body weight, 41.20 ± 4.60 kg) purebred Yorkshire pigs were included in the study, and their serum samples were obtained during the early blood index determination. The pigs were then arranged based on their feed efficiency; 24 pigs with extreme phenotypes were grouped as high-feed efficiency and low-feed efficiency, with 12 pigs in each group. A total of 1364 proteins were found in the serum, and 137 of them showed differential expression between the groups with high- and low-feed efficiency, with 44 of them being upregulated and 93 being downregulated. PRM (parallel reaction monitoring) was used to verify 10 randomly chosen differentially expressed proteins. The proteins that were differentially expressed were shown to be involved in nine pathways, including the immune system, digestive system, human diseases, metabolism, cellular processing, and genetic information processing, according to the KEGG and GO analyses. Moreover, all of the proteins enriched in the immune system were downregulated in the high-feed efficiency pigs, suggesting that a higher immune level may not be conducive to improving feed efficiency in pigs. This study provides insights into the important feed efficiency proteins and pathways in pigs, promoting the further development of protein biomarkers for predicting and improving porcine feed efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siran Zhu
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jinglei Si
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
- Guangxi State Farms Yongxin Animal Husbandry Group Co., Ltd., Nanning 530004, China
| | - Huijie Zhang
- Guangxi Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Nanning 530023, China
| | - Wenjing Qi
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Guangjie Zhang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xueyu Yan
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ye Huang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Mingwei Zhao
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Yafen Guo
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jing Liang
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Ganqiu Lan
- College of Animal Science & Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
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Sun J, Xiao J, Jiang Y, Wang Y, Cao M, Wei J, Yu T, Ding X, Yang G. Genome-Wide Association Study on Reproductive Traits Using Imputation-Based Whole-Genome Sequence Data in Yorkshire Pigs. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14040861. [PMID: 37107619 PMCID: PMC10137786 DOI: 10.3390/genes14040861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproductive traits have a key impact on production efficiency in the pig industry. It is necessary to identify the genetic structure of potential genes that influence reproductive traits. In this study, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on chip and imputed data of five reproductive traits, namely, total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), litter birth weight (LBW), gestation length (GL), and number of weaned (NW), was performed in Yorkshire pigs. In total, 272 of 2844 pigs with reproductive records were genotyped using KPS Porcine Breeding SNP Chips, and then chip data were imputed to sequencing data using two online software programs: the Pig Haplotype Reference Panel (PHARP v2) and Swine Imputation Server (SWIM 1.0). After quality control, we performed GWAS based on chip data and the two different imputation databases by using fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) models. We discovered 71 genome-wide significant SNPs and 25 potential candidate genes (e.g., SMAD4, RPS6KA2, CAMK2A, NDST1, and ADCY5). Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are mainly enriched in the calcium signaling pathway, ovarian steroidogenesis, and GnRH signaling pathways. In conclusion, our results help to clarify the genetic basis of porcine reproductive traits and provide molecular markers for genomic selection in pig breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingchun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jinhong Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yifan Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yaxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Minghao Cao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Jialin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Taiyong Yu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Xiangdong Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gongshe Yang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Laboratory of Animal Fat Deposition & Muscle Development, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang 712100, China
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Identification of candidate genomic regions for egg yolk moisture content based on a genome-wide association study. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:110. [PMID: 36918797 PMCID: PMC10015838 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09221-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eggs represent important sources of protein and are widely loved by consumers. Egg yolk taste is an important index for egg selection, and the moisture content of the egg yolk affects the taste. To understand the molecular mechanism underlying egg yolk moisture content, this study determined the phenotype and heritability of egg yolk water content and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using a mixed linear model. RESULTS We determined the phenotype and heritability of thermogelled egg yolk water content (TWC) and found that the average TWC was 47.73%. Moreover, significant variations occurred (41.06-57.12%), and the heritability was 0.11, which indicates medium-low heritability. Through the GWAS, 48 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) related to TWC (20 significantly, 28 suggestively) were obtained, and they were mainly located on chromosomes 10 and 13. We identified 36 candidate genes based on gene function and found that they were mainly involved in regulating fat, protein, and water content and embryonic development. FGF9, PIAS1, FEM1B, NOX5, GLCE, VDAC1, IGFBP7, and THOC5 were involved in lipid formation and regulation; AP3S2, GNPDA1, HSPA4, AP1B1, CABP7, EEF1D, SYTL3, PPP2CA, SKP1, and UBE2B were involved in protein folding and hydrolysis; and CSF2, SOWAHA, GDF9, FSTL4, RAPGEF6, PAQR5, and ZMAT5 were related to embryonic development and egg production. Moreover, MICU2, ITGA11, WDR76, BLM, ANPEP, TECRL, EWSR1, and P4HA2 were related to yolk quality, while ITGA11, WDR76, BLM, and ANPEP were potentially significantly involved in egg yolk water content and thus deserve further attention and research. In addition, this study identified a 19.31-19.92 Mb genome region on GGA10, and a linkage disequilibrium analysis identified strong correlations within this region. Thus, GGA10 may represent a candidate region for TWC traits. CONCLUSION The molecular genetic mechanism involved in TWC was revealed through heritability measurements and GWAS, which identified a series of SNPs, candidate genes, and candidate regions related to TWC. These results provide insights on the molecular mechanism of egg yolk moisture content and may aid in the development of new egg traits.
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Wijesena HR, Nonneman DJ, Rohrer GA, Lents CA. Relationships of genomic estimated breeding values for age at puberty, birth weight, and growth during development in normal cyclic and acyclic gilts. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad258. [PMID: 37565572 PMCID: PMC10439706 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Managing replacement gilts to reach optimal body weight and growth rate for boar stimulation and first breeding is a key component for sow reproductive longevity and producer profitability. Failure to display pubertal estrus remains a major reason that gilts are culled from the herd. Puberty is metabolically gated so evaluating phenotypic and genetic relationships between birth weight and growth traits with age at puberty and acyclicity can provide valuable insight for efficient gilt development. Data on a litter of origin of the gilt, average daily gain at different stages of development, and age at puberty were available for age-matched cyclic (n = 4,861) and acyclic gilts (prepubertal anestrus, n = 578; behavioral anestrus, n = 428). Genomic estimated breeding values were predicted for each trait using genomic best linear unbiased prediction. Primiparous sows produced more acyclic gilts than multiparous sows (P < 0.05). Accounting for effects of parity and litter size, prepubertal anestrus gilts were heavier at birth and behaviorally anestrus gilts grew faster during the finisher period compared to cyclic gilts (P < 0.05), reflecting possible prenatal programming that negatively affects optimal pubertal development and antagonistic effects between adolescent growth and expression of estrus of gilts from first parity sows. Regression of phenotypic age at puberty with lifetime growth rate (birth to selection) showed a negative linear relationship whereas genomic estimated breeding values showed a negative quadratic relationship indicating that gilts with the least and greatest growth are less optimal as replacements. The slopes of these relationships are small with low negative phenotypic (r = -0.06) and genetic correlations (r = -0.13). The addition of data from acyclic gilts did not substantially change the estimates for genetic relationships between growth and pubertal onset. Although this study identified differences in birth weight and growth rate between cyclic and acyclic gilts the genetic relationships are weak, suggesting that genetic selection for these traits can be achieved separately. Avoiding the smallest and largest gilts in a cohort born to first parity sows could result in gilts with optimal development and reduce the proportion of replacement gilts that are acyclic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dan J Nonneman
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE
| | - Gary A Rohrer
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE
| | - Clay A Lents
- USDA, ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE
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Identification of candidate genomic regions for thermogelled egg yolk traits based on a genome-wide association study. Poult Sci 2022; 102:102402. [PMID: 36610105 PMCID: PMC9850194 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Egg yolk texture is an important indicator for evaluating egg yolk quality. Genetic markers associated with economic traits predict genomes and facilitate mining for potential genes. Numerous genome-wide association studies have been conducted on egg traits. However, studies on the genetic basis of thermogelled yolk texture are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to find significant single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites and candidate genes related to thermogelled yolk texture in Hetian Dahei chicken (HTHD) flocks that can be used as genetic markers. Five traits, including hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience, had low heritability (0.044-0.078). Ten genes, including U6, FSHR, PKDCC, SLC7A11, TIMM9, ARID4A, PSMA3, ACTR10, EML4, and SLC35F4 may control the hardness of the thermogelled egg yolks. In addition, 12 SNPs associated with cohesiveness were identified. RELCH located on GGA2 participates in cholesterol transport. The candidate gene LRRK2, which is associated with gumminess, influences the concentrations of very low-density lipoprotein in blood. Eight SNPs associated with resilience were identified, mainly on GGA3 and GCA28. In total, 208 SNPs associated with chewiness were identified, and 159 candidate genes, which were mainly involved in proteasome-mediated ubiquitin-dependent protein catabolic process, negative regulation of transport, lipid droplet organization, and vehicle docking involved in exocytosis, were found near these regions. Thermogel egg yolk texture is a complex phenotype controlled by multiple genes. Based on heritability assays and GWAS results, there is a genetic basis for the texture of thermogelled egg yolks. We identified a series of SNPs associated with yolk texture and candidate genes. Our result provides a theoretical basis for breeding high-quality egg yolk using molecular marker-assisted selection and could facilitate the development of novel traits.
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12
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Liang S, Guo Z, Tang J, Ji Z, Xie M, Hou S. Genomic divergence during artificial selection by feed conversion ratio in Pekin ducks. Anim Biotechnol 2022; 33:1646-1654. [PMID: 34057401 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.1927750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Pekin ducks are world-famous for its fast growth and have become the majority of breeds rearing in duck industry. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) is an important trait in Pekin ducks breeding and production, and the underlying biological processes are complex. To gain an insight to the possible biological mechanism underlying the FCR in Pekin ducks, an artificial selection population (S) and a natural population (Z7) were used in this study. The FCR of S line decreased from 2.184 ± 0.057 in the first generation to 1.886 ± 0.063 in the eighth generation, which displays significantly low FCR (p = 0.0032) than that of the Z7 line (2.23 ± 0.046). Then, 9 samples from eighth generation of S line and 10 samples from Z7 were used for whole-genome resequencing. Analyses of FST, θπ and XP-EHH revealed 450, 479 and 356 candidate genes, which involved in 1,955, 1,933 and 1,964 candidate divergent regions (CDRs), respectively. And the integration of three approaches resulted in 30 overlapping genes. Functional analysis of 30 candidate genes revealed that variants of KCNQ1 and ADCY7, which were involved in the pancreatic secretion signal pathway, could be important molecular markers for high feed conversion efficiency in S line breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suyun Liang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.,College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanbao Guo
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Tang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhanqing Ji
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Xie
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuisheng Hou
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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13
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Genome-Wide Association Analysis and Genetic Parameters for Feed Efficiency and Related Traits in Yorkshire and Duroc Pigs. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12151902. [PMID: 35892552 PMCID: PMC9329986 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Genetic improvements in feed efficiency (FE) and related traits could considerably reduce pig production costs and energy consumption. Thus, we performed a genetic parameter estimation and genome-wide association study of four FE and FE-related traits, namely, average daily feed intake, average daily gain, the feed conversion ratio, and residual feed intake, of two pig breeds, Yorkshire and Duroc. The results demonstrate the genetic relationships of FE and FE-related traits with two growth traits, age and backfat thickness at 100 kg. We also identified many single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and novel candidate genes related to these traits. In addition, we found many pathways significantly associated with FE and FE-related traits, and they are generally involved in digestive and metabolic processes. The results of this study are expected to provide a valuable reference for the genomic selection of FE and FE-related traits in pigs. Abstract Feed efficiency (FE) traits are key factors that can influence the economic benefits of pig production. However, little is known about the genetic architecture of FE and FE-related traits. This study aimed to identify SNPs and candidate genes associated with FE and FE-related traits, namely, average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), the feed conversion ratio (FCR), and residual feed intake (RFI). The phenotypes of 5823 boars with genotyped data (50 K BeadChip) from 1365 boars from a nucleus farm were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of two breeds, Duroc and Yorkshire. Moreover, we performed a genetic parameter estimation for four FE and FE-related traits. The heritabilities of the FE and FE-related traits ranged from 0.13 to 0.36, and there were significant genetic correlations (−0.69 to 0.52) of the FE and FE-related traits with two growth traits (age at 100 kg and backfat thickness at 100 kg). A total of 61 significant SNPs located on eight different chromosomes associated with the four FE and FE-related traits were identified. We further identified four regions associated with FE and FE-related traits that have not been previously reported, and they may be potential novel QTLs for FE. Considering their biological functions, we finally identified 35 candidate genes relevant for FE and FE-related traits, such as the widely reported MC4R and INSR genes. A gene enrichment analysis showed that FE and FE-related traits were highly enriched in the biosynthesis, digestion, and metabolism of biomolecules. This study deepens our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of FE in pigs and provides valuable information for using marker-assisted selection in pigs to improve FE.
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Davoudi P, Do DN, Colombo SM, Rathgeber B, Miar Y. Application of Genetic, Genomic and Biological Pathways in Improvement of Swine Feed Efficiency. Front Genet 2022; 13:903733. [PMID: 35754793 PMCID: PMC9220306 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.903733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the significant improvement of feed efficiency (FE) in pigs over the past decades, feed costs remain a major challenge for producers profitability. Improving FE is a top priority for the global swine industry. A deeper understanding of the biology underlying FE is crucial for making progress in genetic improvement of FE traits. This review comprehensively discusses the topics related to the FE in pigs including: measurements, genetics, genomics, biological pathways and the advanced technologies and methods involved in FE improvement. We first provide an update of heritability for different FE indicators and then characterize the correlations of FE traits with other economically important traits. Moreover, we present the quantitative trait loci (QTL) and possible candidate genes associated with FE in pigs and outline the most important biological pathways related to the FE traits in pigs. Finally, we present possible ways to improve FE in swine including the implementation of genomic selection, new technologies for measuring the FE traits, and the potential use of genome editing and omics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pourya Davoudi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Duy Ngoc Do
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Stefanie M Colombo
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Bruce Rathgeber
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Younes Miar
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
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15
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Guo Q, Huang L, Jiang Y, Wang Z, Bi Y, Chen G, Bai H, Chang G. Genome-Wide Association Study of Feed Efficiency Related Traits in Ducks. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12121532. [PMID: 35739869 PMCID: PMC9219419 DOI: 10.3390/ani12121532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Good feed efficiency (FE) is an important trait to ensure the economic output of the livestock and poultry industries. Herein, a genome-wide association study was conducted to identify potential variants and genes associated with seven FE measures in ducks. Genomic DNA samples of 308 ducks were collected and sequenced. All animals were evaluated concerning body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), residual feed intake (RFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and weight at 21 (BW21) and 42 days of age (BW42). Overall, 4 (FCR), 3 (FI), 36 (RFI), 6 (BWG), 8 (BW21), and 10 (BW42) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were significantly associated with these FE traits, respectively. Moreover, candidate genes close to the identified variants were found to be mainly involved in key pathways and terms related to metabolism. In summary, these findings improve our understanding of poultry genetics and provide new foundations for breeding programs aimed at maximizing the economic potential of duck breeding and farming. Abstract Feed efficiency (FE) is the most important economic trait in the poultry and livestock industry. Thus, genetic improvement of FE may result in a considerable reduction of the cost and energy burdens. As genome-wide association studies (GWASs) can help identify candidate variants influencing FE, the present study aimed to analyze the phenotypic correlation and identify candidate variants of the seven FE traits in ducks. All traits were found to have significant positive correlations with varying degrees. In particular, residual feed intake presented correlation coefficients of 0.61, 0.54, and 0.13 with feed conversion ratio, and feed intake, respectively. Furthermore, data from seven FE-related GWAS revealed 4 (FCR), 3 (FI), 36 (RFI), 6 (BWG), 8 (BW21), and 10 (BW42) SNPs were significantly associated with body weight gain, feed intake, residual feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and weight at 21 and 42 days, respectively. Candidate SNPs of seven FE trait-related genes were involved in galactose metabolism, starch, propanoate metabolism, sucrose metabolism and etc. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the genetic mechanisms and genes involved in FE-related traits in ducks. However, further investigations are warranted to further validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixin Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Lan Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Yong Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Zhixiu Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Yulin Bi
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
| | - Guohong Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Hao Bai
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (H.B.); (G.C.); Tel.:+86-187-9660-8824 (H.B.); + 86-178-5197-5060 (G.C.)
| | - Guobin Chang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (Q.G.); (L.H.); (Y.J.); (Z.W.); (Y.B.); (G.C.)
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Correspondence: (H.B.); (G.C.); Tel.:+86-187-9660-8824 (H.B.); + 86-178-5197-5060 (G.C.)
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16
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Zhang X, Luan P, Cao D, Hu G. A High-Density Genetic Linkage Map and Fine Mapping of QTL For Feed Conversion Efficiency in Common Carp ( Cyprinus carpio). Front Genet 2021; 12:778487. [PMID: 34868267 PMCID: PMC8633483 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.778487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) is an economically crucial trait in fish, however, little progress has been made in genetics and genomics for this trait because phenotypes of the trait are difficult to measure. In this study, we constructed a high-density and high-resolution genetic linkage map with 28,416 SNP markers for common carp (Cyprinus carpio) based on high throughput genotyping with the carp 250K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in a full-sib F1 family of mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio) consisting of 141 progenies. The linkage map contained 11,983 distinct loci and spanned 3,590.09 cM with an average locus interval of 0.33 cM. A total of 17 QTL for the FCE trait were detected on four LGs (LG9, LG20, LG28, and LG32), explaining 8.9-15.9% of the phenotypic variations. One major cluster containing eight QTL (qFCE1-28, qFCE2-28, qFCE3-28, qFCE4-28, qFCE5-28, qFCE6-28, qFCE7-28, and qFCE8-28) was detected on LG28. Two clusters consisting of four QTL (qFCE1-32, qFCE2-32, qFCE3-32, and qFCE4-32) and three QTL (qFCE1-20, qFCE2-20, and qFCE3-20) were detected on LG32 and LG20, respectively. Nine candidate genes (ACACA, SCAF4, SLC2A5, TNMD, PCDH1, FOXO, AGO1, FFAR3, and ARID1A) underlying the feed efficiency trait were also identified, the biological functions of which may be involved in lipid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, energy deposition, fat accumulation, digestion, growth regulation, and cell proliferation and differentiation according to GO (Gene Ontology). As an important tool, high-density and high-resolution genetic linkage maps play a crucial role in the QTL fine mapping of economically important traits. Our novel findings provided new insights that elucidate the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of feed efficiency and the subsequent marker-assisted selection breeding in common carp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Zhang
- National and Local United Engineering Laboratory for Freshwater Fish Breeding, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
| | | | | | - Guo Hu
- National and Local United Engineering Laboratory for Freshwater Fish Breeding, Heilongjiang River Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Harbin, China
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17
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Yang R, Guo X, Zhu D, Tan C, Bian C, Ren J, Huang Z, Zhao Y, Cai G, Liu D, Wu Z, Wang Y, Li N, Hu X. Accelerated deciphering of the genetic architecture of agricultural economic traits in pigs using a low-coverage whole-genome sequencing strategy. Gigascience 2021; 10:giab048. [PMID: 34282453 PMCID: PMC8290195 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giab048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uncovering the genetic architecture of economic traits in pigs is important for agricultural breeding. However, high-density haplotype reference panels are unavailable in most agricultural species, limiting accurate genotype imputation in large populations. Moreover, the infinitesimal model of quantitative traits implies that weak association signals tend to be spread across most of the genome, further complicating the genetic analysis. Hence, there is a need to develop new methods for sequencing large cohorts without large reference panels. RESULTS We describe a Tn5-based highly accurate, cost- and time-efficient, low-coverage sequencing method to obtain 11.3 million whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 2,869 Duroc boars at a mean depth of 0.73×. On the basis of these single-nucleotide polymorphisms, a genome-wide association study was performed, resulting in 14 quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for 7 of 21 important agricultural traits in pigs. These QTLs harbour genes, such as ABCD4 for total teat number and HMGA1 for back fat thickness, and provided a starting point for further investigation. The inheritance models of the different traits varied greatly. Most follow the minor-polygene model, but this can be attributed to different reasons, such as the shaping of genetic architecture by artificial selection for this population and sufficiently interconnected minor gene regulatory networks. CONCLUSIONS Genome-wide association study results for 21 important agricultural traits identified 14 QTLs/genes and showed their genetic architectures, providing guidance for genetic improvement harnessing genomic features. The Tn5-based low-coverage sequencing method can be applied to large-scale genome studies for any species without a good reference panel and can be used for agricultural breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoli Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Di Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Cheng Tan
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan road, Tianhe district, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Cheng Bian
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jiangli Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Zhuolin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yiqiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gengyuan Cai
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan road, Tianhe district, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan road, Tianhe district, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, South China Agricultural University, No. 483 Wushan road, Tianhe district, Guangdong 510640, China
| | - Yuzhe Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
- National Research Facility for Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Model Animals (Beijing), China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Ning Li
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan west road, Haidian district, Beijing 100193, China
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18
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Li LY, Xiao SJ, Tu JM, Zhang ZK, Zheng H, Huang LB, Huang ZY, Yan M, Liu XD, Guo YM. A further survey of the quantitative trait loci affecting swine body size and carcass traits in five related pig populations. Anim Genet 2021; 52:621-632. [PMID: 34182604 DOI: 10.1111/age.13112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Breeding for good meat quality performance while maintaining large body size and desirable carcass traits has been the major challenge for modern swine selective breeding. To address this goal, in the present work we studied five related populations produced by two commercial breeds (Berkshire and Duroc) and two Chinese breeds (Licha black pig and Lulai black pig). A single-trait GWAS performed on 20 body size and carcass traits using a self-developed China Chip-1 porcine SNP50K BeadChip identified 11 genome-wide significant QTL on nine chromosomes and 22 suggestive QTL on 15 chromosomes. For the 11 genome-wide significant QTL, eight were detected in at least two populations, and the rest were population-specific and only mapped in Shanxia black pig. Most of the genome-wide significant QTL were pleiotropic; for example, the QTL around 75.65 Mb on SSC4 was associated with four traits at genome-wide significance level. After screening the genes within 50 kb of the top SNP for each genome-wide significant QTL, NR6A1 and VRTN were chosen as candidate genes for vertebrae number; PLAG1 and BMP2 were identified as candidate genes for body size; and MC4R was the strong candidate gene for body weight. The four genes have been reported as candidates for thoracic vertebrae number, lumbar vertebrae number, carcass length and body weight respectively in previous studies. The effects of VRTN on thoracic vertebrae number, carcass length and body length have been verified in Shanxia black pig. Therefore, the VRTN genotype could be used in gene-assisted selection, and this could accelerate genetic improvement of body size and carcass traits in Shanxia black pig.
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Affiliation(s)
- L-Y Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - S-J Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - J-M Tu
- Jiangxi Shanxia Swine Genetic Investment Company Limited, Dingnan, Jiangxi, 341900, China
| | - Z-K Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - H Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China.,Jiangxi Shanxia Swine Genetic Investment Company Limited, Dingnan, Jiangxi, 341900, China
| | - L-B Huang
- Jiangxi Shanxia Swine Genetic Investment Company Limited, Dingnan, Jiangxi, 341900, China
| | - Z-Y Huang
- Jiangxi Shanxia Swine Genetic Investment Company Limited, Dingnan, Jiangxi, 341900, China
| | - M Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - X-D Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
| | - Y-M Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330045, China
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19
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Miao Y, Mei Q, Fu C, Liao M, Liu Y, Xu X, Li X, Zhao S, Xiang T. Genome-wide association and transcriptome studies identify candidate genes and pathways for feed conversion ratio in pigs. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:294. [PMID: 33888058 PMCID: PMC8063444 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07570-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The feed conversion ratio (FCR) is an important productive trait that greatly affects profits in the pig industry. Elucidating the genetic mechanisms underpinning FCR may promote more efficient improvement of FCR through artificial selection. In this study, we integrated a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with transcriptome analyses of different tissues in Yorkshire pigs (YY) with the aim of identifying key genes and signalling pathways associated with FCR. Results A total of 61 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected by GWAS in YY. All of these SNPs were located on porcine chromosome (SSC) 5, and the covered region was considered a quantitative trait locus (QTL) region for FCR. Some genes distributed around these significant SNPs were considered as candidates for regulating FCR, including TPH2, FAR2, IRAK3, YARS2, GRIP1, FRS2, CNOT2 and TRHDE. According to transcriptome analyses in the hypothalamus, TPH2 exhibits the potential to regulate intestinal motility through serotonergic synapse and oxytocin signalling pathways. In addition, GRIP1 may be involved in glutamatergic and GABAergic signalling pathways, which regulate FCR by affecting appetite in pigs. Moreover, GRIP1, FRS2, CNOT2, and TRHDE may regulate metabolism in various tissues through a thyroid hormone signalling pathway. Conclusions Based on the results from GWAS and transcriptome analyses, the TPH2, GRIP1, FRS2, TRHDE, and CNOT2 genes were considered candidate genes for regulating FCR in Yorkshire pigs. These findings improve the understanding of the genetic mechanisms of FCR and may help optimize the design of breeding schemes. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07570-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanxin Miao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.,Jingchu University of Technology, Jingmen, 448000, China
| | - Quanshun Mei
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Chuanke Fu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Mingxing Liao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.,Agriculture and Rural Affairs Administration of Jingmen City, Jingmen, 448000, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xuewen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Tao Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China. .,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, 430070, China.
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20
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Zhang Z, Zhang Z, Oyelami FO, Sun H, Xu Z, Ma P, Wang Q, Pan Y. Identification of genes related to intramuscular fat independent of backfat thickness in Duroc pigs using single-step genome-wide association. Anim Genet 2020; 52:108-113. [PMID: 33073401 DOI: 10.1111/age.13012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Intramuscular fat (IMF) is an important meat-quality trait of pigs, which influences pork's shearing force, hydraulics, tenderness and juicy flavor. However, to achieve a higher percentage of lean meat, pigs with lower backfat thickness (BF) are intensively selected for, which may lead to a reduction in pork quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to locate loci that affect IMF without changing BF. A single-step GWAS was performed on 950 Duroc pigs genotyped by a 50K SNP chip in order to detect genomic variants relevant to IMF and BF. The significant SNPs detected were afterwards divided into a BF subset (seven SNPs), an IMF subset (11 SNPs) and a subset of both traits (12 SNPs), according to their P-value and LD. After SNP and QTL annotation, our results indicated that SSC1: 167938652, 166363826, 164829874 and 167171587 might be associated with IMF without changing BF. In the subset of both traits, we found that the combined effect of ALGA0006602 (SSC1: 159538854) and 12784636 (SSC1: 160773437) might improve the IMF without changing BF. Our gene annotation result showed that TLE3, ITGA11, SMAD6, PAQR5 and [RNF152A/G × MC4RA/A ] genes might affect IMF independently of BF. We believe that the SNPs and genes identified in this study will be valuable for the future molecular breeding of IMF in Duroc pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, East, 200240, China
| | - Z Zhang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East, 310058, China
| | - F O Oyelami
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, East, 200240, China
| | - H Sun
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, East, 200240, China
| | - Z Xu
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, East, 200240, China
| | - P Ma
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800# Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, East, 200240, China
| | - Q Wang
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East, 310058, China
| | - Y Pan
- Department of Animal Science, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, 866# Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, East, 310058, China
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21
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Fu L, Jiang Y, Wang C, Mei M, Zhou Z, Jiang Y, Song H, Ding X. A Genome-Wide Association Study on Feed Efficiency Related Traits in Landrace Pigs. Front Genet 2020; 11:692. [PMID: 32719719 PMCID: PMC7350416 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Feed efficiency (FE) traits in pigs are of utmost economic importance. Genetic improvement of FE related traits in pigs might significantly reduce production cost and energy consumption. Hence, our study aimed at identifying SNPs and candidate genes associated with FE related traits, including feed conversion ratio (FCR), average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and residual feed intake (RFI). A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed for the four FE related traits in 296 Landrace pigs genotyped with PorcineSNP50 BeadChip. Two different single-trait methods, single SNP linear model GWAS (LM-GWAS) and single-step GWAS (ssGWAS), were implemented. Our results showed that the two methods showed high consistency with respect to SNP identification. A total of 32 common significant SNPs associated with the four FE related traits were identified. Bioinformatics analysis revealed eight common QTL regions, of which three QTL regions related to ADFI and RFI traits were overlapped. Gene ontology analysis revealed six common candidate genes (PRELID2, GPER1, PDX1, TEX2, PLCL2, ICAM2) relevant for the four FE related traits. These genes are involved in the processes of fat synthesis and decomposition, lipid transport process, insulin metabolism, among others. Our results provide, new insights into the genetic mechanisms and candidate function genes of FE related traits in pigs. However, further investigations to validate these results are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chonglong Wang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hefei, China
| | - Mengran Mei
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziwen Zhou
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yifan Jiang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hailiang Song
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiangdong Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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22
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Kasper C, Ruiz-Ascacibar I, Stoll P, Bee G. Investigating the potential for genetic improvement of nitrogen and phosphorus efficiency in a Swiss large white pig population using chemical analysis. J Anim Breed Genet 2020; 137:545-558. [PMID: 32198799 PMCID: PMC7586817 DOI: 10.1111/jbg.12472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 02/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Pig production contributes to environmental pollution through excretion of phosphorus and nitrogenous compounds. European pig production requires annual imports of currently 36 million tons of soya bean, because domestic plant protein sources often do not meet the required protein quality. Most of the mineral phosphate sources are also imported. It is therefore desirable to improve nutrient deposition efficiency through selective breeding, that is to realise similar growth rates and carcass compositions as currently achieved but with a lower intake of dietary crude protein or phosphate. For a preliminary evaluation of the potential of selecting for increased nutrient deposition efficiency, we estimated genetic parameters for nitrogen and phosphorus efficiencies in a Swiss Large White pig population including 294 individuals. Nutrient efficiency phenotypes were obtained from wet‐chemistry analyses of pigs of various live weights. Heritability of nitrogen efficiency was estimated at 41%. Heritability of phosphorus efficiency was very low (0.3%), but positive genetic correlations with nitrogen efficiency suggest that breeding for nitrogen efficiency would positively affect phosphorus efficiency. Further studies are needed to improve the quality of estimates and to obtain accurate high‐throughput measures of nutrient efficiency to be implemented on farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Kasper
- Swine Research Unit, Agroscope Posieux, Posieux, Switzerland
| | | | - Peter Stoll
- Swine Research Unit, Agroscope Posieux, Posieux, Switzerland
| | - Giuseppe Bee
- Swine Research Unit, Agroscope Posieux, Posieux, Switzerland
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