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Wang Y, Wang M, He X, Dong R, Liu H, Yu G. Detection and Analysis of Genes Affecting the Number of Thoracic Vertebrae in Licha Black Pigs. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:477. [PMID: 38674411 PMCID: PMC11050242 DOI: 10.3390/genes15040477] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of thoracic vertebrae (NTV) in pigs is an important economic trait that significantly influences pork production. While the Licha black pig is a well-known Chinese pig breed with multiple thoracic vertebrae, the genetic mechanism is still unknown. Here, we performed a selective signal analysis on the genome of Licha black pigs, comparing individuals with 15 NTV versus those with 16 NTV to better understand functional genes associated with NTV. A total of 2265 selection signal regions were detected across the genome, including 527 genes and 1073 QTL that overlapped with the selection signal regions. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that LRP5 and SP5 genes were involved in biological processes such as bone morphogenesis and Wnt protein binding. Furthermore, three genes, LRP8, DEF6, and SCUBE3, associated with osteoblast differentiation and bone formation, were located within or close to the QTL related to bone development and vertebrae number. These five genes were hypothesized to be potential candidates for regulating the NTV trait in Licha black pigs. Our findings revealed several candidate genes that play crucial roles in NTV regulation and provide a theoretical foundation to understand the genetic mechanism of the NTV trait in pig breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (M.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Min Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (M.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Xiaojin He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (M.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Ruilan Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (M.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
| | - Hongjiang Liu
- Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiaozhou, Jiaozhou 266300, China;
| | - Guanghui Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (M.W.); (X.H.); (R.D.)
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2
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Yang R, Jin S, Fang S, Yan D, Zhang H, Nie J, Liu J, Lv M, Zhang B, Dong X. Genetic introgression from commercial European pigs to the indigenous Chinese Lijiang breed and associated changes in phenotypes. Genet Sel Evol 2024; 56:24. [PMID: 38566006 PMCID: PMC10985947 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-024-00893-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene flow is crucial for enhancing economic traits of livestock. In China, breeders have used hybridization strategies for decades to improve livestock performance. Here, we performed whole-genome sequencing of a native Chinese Lijiang pig (LJP) breed. By integrating previously published data, we explored the genetic structure and introgression of genetic components from commercial European pigs (EP) into the LJP, and examined the impact of this introgression on phenotypic traits. RESULTS Our analysis revealed significant introgression of EP breeds into the LJP and other domestic pig breeds in China. Using a haplotype-based approach, we quantified introgression levels and compared EP to LJP and other Chinese domestic pigs. The results show that EP introgression is widely prevalent in Chinese domestic pigs, although there are significant differences between breeds. We propose that LJP could potentially act as a mediator for the transmission of EP haplotypes. We also examined the correlation between EP introgression and the number of thoracic vertebrae in LJP and identified VRTN and STUM as candidate genes for this trait. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of introgressed European haplotypes in the LJP breed and describes the potential role of EP introgression on phenotypic changes of this indigenous breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifei Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Siqi Jin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Suyun Fang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Dawei Yan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingru Nie
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinqiao Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Minjuan Lv
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| | - Xinxing Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, China.
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3
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Zhou C, Zhang Y, Ma T, Wu D, Yang Y, Wang D, Li X, Guo S, Yang S, Song Y, Zhang Y, Zuo Y, Cao G. Whole-Genome Resequencing of Ujimqin Sheep Identifies Genes Associated with Vertebral Number. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:677. [PMID: 38473062 DOI: 10.3390/ani14050677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The number of vertebrae is a crucial economic trait that can significantly impact the carcass length and meat production in animals. However, our understanding of the quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes associated with the vertebral number in sheep (Ovis aries) remains limited. To identify these candidate genes and QTLs, we collected 73 Ujimqin sheep with increased numbers of vertebrae (T13L7, T14L6, and T14L7) and 23 sheep with normal numbers of vertebrae (T13L6). Through high-throughput genome resequencing, we obtained a total of 24,130,801 effective single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). By conducting a selective-sweep analysis, we discovered that the most significantly selective region was located on chromosome 7. Within this region, we identified several genes, including VRTN, SYNDIG1L, LTBP2, and ABCD4, known to regulate the spinal development and morphology. Further, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) performed on sheep with increased and normal vertebral numbers confirmed that ABCD4 is a candidate gene for determining the number of vertebrae in sheep. Additionally, the most significant SNP on chromosome 7 was identified as a candidate QTL. Moreover, we detected two missense mutations in the ABCD4 gene; one of these mutations (Chr7: 89393414, C > T) at position 22 leads to the conversion of arginine (Arg) to glutamine (Gln), which is expected to negatively affect the protein's function. Notably, a transcriptome expression profile in mouse embryonic development revealed that ABCD4 is highly expressed during the critical period of vertebral formation (4.5-7.5 days). Our study highlights ABCD4 as a potential major gene influencing the number of vertebrae in Ujimqin sheep, with promising prospects for future genome-assisted breeding improvements in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanqing Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Teng Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
| | - Dabala Wu
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Yanyan Yang
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Daqing Wang
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Xiunan Li
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Shuchun Guo
- Inner Mongolia Academy of Agricultural and Animal Husbandry Sciences, Hohhot 010070, China
| | - Siqi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yongli Song
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China
| | - Yongchun Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Guifang Cao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010010, China
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4
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Khan MZ, Chen W, Huang B, Liu X, Wang X, Liu Y, Chai W, Wang C. Advancements in Genetic Marker Exploration for Livestock Vertebral Traits with a Focus on China. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:594. [PMID: 38396562 PMCID: PMC10885964 DOI: 10.3390/ani14040594] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In livestock breeding, the number of vertebrae has gained significant attention due to its impact on carcass quality and quantity. Variations in vertebral traits have been observed across different animal species and breeds, with a strong correlation to growth and meat production. Furthermore, vertebral traits are classified as quantitative characteristics. Molecular marker techniques, such as marker-assisted selection (MAS), have emerged as efficient tools to identify genetic markers associated with vertebral traits. In the current review, we highlight some key potential genes and their polymorphisms that play pivotal roles in controlling vertebral traits (development, length, and number) in various livestock species, including pigs, donkeys, and sheep. Specific genetic variants within these genes have been linked to vertebral development, number, and length, offering valuable insights into the genetic mechanisms governing vertebral traits. This knowledge has significant implications for selective breeding strategies to enhance structural characteristics and meat quantity and quality in livestock, ultimately improving the efficiency and quality of the animal husbandry industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Zahoor Khan
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 522000, China
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Changfa Wang
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding and Ecological Feeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 522000, China
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5
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Xie Q, Zhang Z, Chen Z, Sun J, Li M, Wang Q, Pan Y. Integration of Selection Signatures and Protein Interactions Reveals NR6A1, PAPPA2, and PIK3C2B as the Promising Candidate Genes Underlying the Characteristics of Licha Black Pig. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040500. [PMID: 37106701 PMCID: PMC10135650 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Licha black (LI) pig has the specific characteristics of larger body length and appropriate fat deposition among Chinese indigenous pigs. Body length is one of the external traits that affect production performance, and fat deposition influences meat quality. However, the genetic characteristics of LI pigs have not yet been systematically uncovered. Here, the genomic information from 891 individuals of LI pigs, commercial pigs, and other Chinese indigenous pigs was used to analyze the breed characteristics of the LI pig with runs of homozygosity, haplotype, and FST selection signatures. The results showed the growth traits-related genes (i.e., NR6A1 and PAPPA2) and the fatness traits-related gene (i.e., PIK3C2B) were the promising candidate genes that closely related to the characteristics of LI pigs. In addition, the protein–protein interaction network revealed the potential interactions between the promising candidate genes and the FASN gene. The RNA expression data from FarmGTEx indicated that the RNA expression levels of NR6A1, PAPPA2, PIK3C2B, and FASN were highly correlated in the ileum. This study provides valuable molecular insights into the mechanisms that affect pig body length and fat deposition, which can be used in the further breeding process to improve meat quality and commercial profitability.
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6
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Liu C, Hou L, Zhao Q, Zhou W, Liu K, Liu Q, Zhou T, Xu B, Li P, Huang R. The selected genes NR6A1, RSAD2-CMPK2, and COL3A1 contribute to body size variation in Meishan pigs through different patterns. J Anim Sci 2023; 101:skad304. [PMID: 37703114 PMCID: PMC10548407 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skad304] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The high-fertility Meishan pig is currently categorized into medium sized (MMS) and small sized (SMS) based on body size. To identify causal genes responsible for the variation in body size within the two categories, we sequenced individuals representing the entire consanguinity of the existing Meishan pig. This enabled us to conduct genome selective signal analysis. Our findings revealed the genomes of MMS and SMS are stratified, with selective sweep regions formed by differential genomic intervals between the two categories enriched in multiple pig body size related quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Furthermore, the missense mutation c.575T > C of candidate causal gene NR6A1, accounting for the variation in lumbar vertebrae number in pigs, was positively selected in MMS only, leading to an increase in body length of MMS at 6 months of age. To precisely identify causal genes accounting for body size variation through multi-omics, we collected femoral cartilage and liver transcription data from MMS and SMS respectively, and re-sequencing data from pig breeds exhibiting varying body sizes. We found that two selected regions where the RSAD2-CMPK2 and COL3A1 genes are located, respectively, showed different haplotypes in pig breeds of varying body size, and was associated with body or carcass length in hybridized Suhuai pig. Additionally, the above three hub genes, were significantly greater expressed in SMS femoral cartilage and liver tissues compared to MMS. These three genes could strengthen the pathways related to bone resorption and metabolism in SMS, potentially hindering bone and skeletal development and resulting in a smaller body size in SMS. These findings provide valuable insights into the genetic mechanism of body size variation in Meishan pig population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenxi Liu
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Liming Hou
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qingbo Zhao
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wuduo Zhou
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Kaiyue Liu
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Tengbin Zhou
- Kunshan Animal Disease Prevention and Control Center, Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Binbin Xu
- Kunshan Meishan Pig Breeding Co., Ltd., Suzhou 215000, China
| | - Pinghua Li
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
- Huaian Academy, Nanjing Agricultural University, Huaian 223001, China
| | - Ruihua Huang
- Institute of Swine Science (Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (Nanjing)), Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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7
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Chang YC, Manent J, Schroeder J, Wong SFL, Hauswirth GM, Shylo NA, Moore EL, Achilleos A, Garside V, Polo JM, Trainor P, McGlinn E. Nr6a1 controls Hox expression dynamics and is a master regulator of vertebrate trunk development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:7766. [PMID: 36522318 PMCID: PMC9755267 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35303-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate main-body axis is laid down during embryonic stages in an anterior-to-posterior (head-to-tail) direction, driven and supplied by posteriorly located progenitors. Whilst posterior expansion and segmentation appears broadly uniform along the axis, there is developmental and evolutionary support for at least two discrete modules controlling processes within different axial regions: a trunk and a tail module. Here, we identify Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (Nr6a1) as a master regulator of trunk development in the mouse. Specifically, Nr6a1 was found to control vertebral number and segmentation of the trunk region, autonomously from other axial regions. Moreover, Nr6a1 was essential for the timely progression of Hox signatures, and neural versus mesodermal cell fate choice, within axial progenitors. Collectively, Nr6a1 has an axially-restricted role in all major cellular and tissue-level events required for vertebral column formation, supporting the view that changes in Nr6a1 levels may underlie evolutionary changes in axial formulae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Cheng Chang
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Jan Manent
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Jan Schroeder
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC Australia
| | - Siew Fen Lisa Wong
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Gabriel M. Hauswirth
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Natalia A. Shylo
- grid.250820.d0000 0000 9420 1591Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri USA
| | - Emma L. Moore
- grid.250820.d0000 0000 9420 1591Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri USA
| | - Annita Achilleos
- grid.250820.d0000 0000 9420 1591Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri USA ,grid.413056.50000 0004 0383 4764University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Victoria Garside
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
| | - Jose M. Polo
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, VIC Australia
| | - Paul Trainor
- grid.250820.d0000 0000 9420 1591Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri USA ,grid.412016.00000 0001 2177 6375Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas USA
| | - Edwina McGlinn
- grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857EMBL Australia, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800 Australia ,grid.1002.30000 0004 1936 7857Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800 Australia
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8
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Ahbara AM, Musa HH, Robert C, Abebe A, Al-Jumaili AS, Kebede A, Latairish S, Agoub MO, Clark E, Hanotte O, Mwacharo JM. Natural adaptation and human selection of northeast African sheep genomes. Genomics 2022; 114:110448. [PMID: 35964803 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2022.110448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
African sheep manifest diverse but distinct physio-anatomical traits, which are the outcomes of natural- and human-driven selection. Here, we generated 34.8 million variants from 150 indigenous northeast African sheep genomes sequenced at an average depth of ∼54× for 130 samples (Ethiopia, Libya) and ∼20× for 20 samples (Sudan). These represented sheep from diverse environments, tail morphology and post-Neolithic introductions to Africa. Phylogenetic and model-based admixture analysis provided evidence of four genetic groups corresponding to altitudinal geographic origins, tail morphotypes and possible historical introduction and dispersal of the species into and across the continent. Running admixture at higher levels of K (6 ≤ K ≤ 25), revealed cryptic levels of genome intermixing as well as distinct genetic backgrounds in some populations. Comparative genomic analysis identified targets of selection that spanned conserved haplotype structures overlapping clusters of genes and gene families. These were related to hypoxia responses, ear morphology, caudal vertebrae and tail skeleton length, and tail fat-depot structures. Our findings provide novel insights underpinning morphological variation and response to human-driven selection and environmental adaptation in African indigenous sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abulgasim M Ahbara
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Sciences, Misurata University, Misurata, Libya; School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK; Small Ruminant Genomics, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; LiveGene, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Animal and Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, The Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Hassan H Musa
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Christelle Robert
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ayele Abebe
- Debre Berhan Research Centre, Debre Berhan, Ethiopia
| | - Ahmed S Al-Jumaili
- Department of Medical Laboratory Techniques, Al-Maarif University College, Ramadi, Anbar, Iraq
| | - Adebabay Kebede
- LiveGene-CTLGH, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia
| | - Suliman Latairish
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Misurata University, Misurata, Libya
| | | | - Emily Clark
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK; LiveGene-CTLGH, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
| | - Joram M Mwacharo
- Small Ruminant Genomics, International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; Animal and Veterinary Sciences, SRUC, The Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, Edinburgh, UK; Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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9
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Tang H, Ouyang J, Liu S, Xiong Y, Wu Y, Wang L, Wang C, Yan X, Shen Y, Chen H. Population structure of 3907 worldwide pigs and the introgression of Chinese indigenous pigs by European pigs. Anim Genet 2022; 53:599-612. [PMID: 35735069 DOI: 10.1111/age.13234] [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: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
With the improvement in sequencing technology and the decrease in sequencing cost, increasing amounts of genomic data for pigs have been uploaded to public databases. However, no researchers have to date integrated all currently available data to uncover the global genetic status of pigs. Meanwhile, little is known about the introgression from European to Chinese pigs and its underlying influences. Therefore, we integrated the effective genotype data of 3907 pigs from 193 populations worldwide using population genetic analysis, gene flow analysis and a sharing-IBD study. These findings illustrate not only the population structure of 59 Chinese native breeds and others but also the amounts of gene flow and introgression that have occurred between Western and Chinese pigs. In addition, we demonstrate the presence of introgressed European haplotypes in Chinese indigenous breeds and identify relevant introgressed regions that contain genes associated with growth and feed efficiency. Moreover, we compare the introgression patterns of Western and Chinese pigs and further discuss possible explanations for why the level of introgression differs between Chinese pig breeds and Western modern breeds. Collectively, this study provides a fine global population structure analysis of pigs and presents evidence of European pigs being interbred with local breeds in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Tang
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jing Ouyang
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yanpeng Xiong
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yongfei Wu
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Luping Wang
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Cong Wang
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xueming Yan
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yangyang Shen
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
| | - Hao Chen
- College of Life Science, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, China
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10
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Liu Z, Gao Q, Wang T, Chai W, Zhan Y, Akhtar F, Zhang Z, Li Y, Shi X, Wang C. Multi-Thoracolumbar Variations and NR6A1 Gene Polymorphisms Potentially Associated with Body Size and Carcass Traits of Dezhou Donkey. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12111349. [PMID: 35681814 PMCID: PMC9179361 DOI: 10.3390/ani12111349] [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: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of thoracolumbar vertebrae is a quantitative trait positively correlated with the economic traits of livestock. More thoracolumbar vertebrae individuals could genetically be used to improve the livestock population, as more thoracolumbar vertebrae means a longer carcass, which could bring more meat production. Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) is considered a strong candidate gene for effecting the number of vertebrae in livestock. The purposes of this study are as follows: (a) Analyzing the effect of TLN variation on body size and carcass traits of Dezhou donkey; (b) Studying the distribution of seven single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in NR6A1 gene of Dezhou donkey; (c) Exploring the relationship between latent SNVs and TLN, the body size and carcass traits. We examined the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae number and seven SNVs in NR6A1 gene of 455 Dezhou donkeys, and analyzed the relationships between them. Five types of thoracolumbar combinations (T17L5 (individual with 17 thoracic and five lumbar vertebrae) 2.4%, T18L5 75.8%, T19L5 1.1%, T17L6 11.9%, and T18L6 8.8%) of Dezhou donkeys were detected in this study. For one thoracolumbar vertebra added, the body length of Dezhou donkey increases by 3 cm and the carcass weight increases by 6 kg. Seven SNVs (g.18093100G > T, g.18094587G > T, g.18106043G > T, g.18108764G > T, g.18110615T > G, g.18112000C > T and g.18114954T > G) of the NR6A1 gene were found to have a significant association with the TLN, body size and carcass traits of Dezhou donkey (p < 0.05), respectively. For instance, g.18114954C > T is significantly associated with lumber vertebrae number, the total number of thoracolumbar, and carcass weight, and individuals with TT genotype had significantly larger value than CC genotype (p < 0.05). Using these 7SNVs, 16 different haplotypes were estimated. Compared to Hap3Hap3, individuals homozygous for Hap2Hap2 showed significantly longer length in one thoracic spine (STL), the total thoracic vertebrae and one thoracolumbar spine. Our study will not only extend the understanding of genetic variation in the NR6A1 gene of Dezhou donkey, but also provide useful information for marker assisted selection in donkey breeding program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziwen Liu
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Qican Gao
- Key Laboratory of Forage and Endemic Crop Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot 010070, China;
| | - Tianqi Wang
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Wenqiong Chai
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Yandong Zhan
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Faheem Akhtar
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Zhenwei Zhang
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Yuhua Li
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Xiaoyuan Shi
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
| | - Changfa Wang
- Liao Cheng Reaserch Inisitute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China; (Z.L.); (T.W.); (W.C.); (Y.Z.); (F.A.); (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (X.S.)
- Correspondence:
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11
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Wang Y, Dong R, Li X, Cui C, Yu G. Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Family Structure of the Licha Black Pig Population on Jiaodong Peninsula, Shandong Province, China. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081045. [PMID: 35454291 PMCID: PMC9026534 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary This study investigated the current conservation status, including the genetic diversity, the family structure, and inbreeding, of the Licha black pig population on Jiaodong Peninsula (Shandong Province, China). The results provide insights into the management and conservation of a local pig breed. Breeders are encouraged to utilize genomic data to improve mating schemes based on the family information obtained in this study, such as keeping an equivalent number of boars and sows in each family and selecting individuals with a kinship coefficient of less than 0.1 for mating. Abstract The Licha black pig, a popular indigenous Chinese pig breed, is known for its multi-vertebral trait and higher lean meat rate. Understanding the current conservation status, family structure, and degree of inbreeding of the Licha black pig population will be useful to maintain a sufficient level of genetic diversity in these animal resources. In the present study, the genetic diversity, population structure, and inbreeding coefficient of this conserved population were analyzed using SNP genotyping data from 209 Licha black pigs. Based on the genomic information, this population was divided into eight different families with boars. The effective population size (Ne), polymorphic marker ratio (PN), expected heterozygosity (He), and observed heterozygosity (Ho) of this population were 8.7, 0.827, 0.3576, and 0.3512, respectively. In addition, a total of 5976 runs of homozygosity (ROHs) were identified, and most of the ROHs (54.9%) were greater than 5 Mb. The genomic inbreeding coefficient of each individual was estimated based on ROHs (FROH) with an average inbreeding coefficient of 0.11 for the population. Five statistics (Ne, PN, Ho, He, and FROH) showed a decrease in the level of genetic diversity and a high degree of inbreeding in this population. Thus, special preservation programs need to be implemented in the future, such as introducing new individuals or improving the mating plan. Altogether, our study provides the first genomic overview of the genetic diversity and population structure of Licha black pigs, which will be useful for the management and long-term preservation of this breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (R.D.); (X.L.)
| | - Ruilan Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (R.D.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiao Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (R.D.); (X.L.)
| | - Chao Cui
- Bureau of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiaozhou, Jiaozhou 266300, China;
| | - Guanghui Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China; (Y.W.); (R.D.); (X.L.)
- Correspondence:
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12
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Li C, Liu K, Dai J, Li X, Liu X, Ni W, Li H, Wang D, Qiao J, Wang Y, Cui Y, Xia X, Hu S. Whole-genome resequencing to investigate the determinants of the multi-lumbar vertebrae trait in sheep. Gene 2022; 809:146020. [PMID: 34656743 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.146020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Multi-lumbar vertebrae trait is a beneficial mutation that can significantly improve livestock meat production. However, the genetic basis of the multi-lumbar vertebrae in sheep is still unclear. Here, we analysed the number of lumbar vertebrae of Duolang sheep and found three different traits of lumbar vertebrae number. Compared with the normal sheep, the length and weight of animal carcass from the multi-lumbar vertebrae sheep increased by 2.21 cm and 0.78 kg, respectively. We performed high-throughput genome resequencing on multi-lumbar vertebrae (n = 18) and normal (n = 11) Duolang sheep and obtained a total of more than 528.87 GB data. We found that the most significantly selective region were located in the 49.68-49.74 MB of chromosome 4 by selective-sweep analysis. We annotated this region and found that it contains SFRP4 which is known to regulate bone development. We further used the PCR-SSCP technology to detect the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the putative candidate SFRP4 and found that the two SNPs (rs600370085:C > T and rs415133338: A > G) of this gene were significantly associated with the multi-lumbar vertebrae of Duolang sheep. Our study indicates that the SFRP4 may be a potential major gene that affects the number of lumbar vertebrae in Duolang sheep, and has the potential to be utilized for sheep breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunyuan Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China; College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Kaiping Liu
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Jihong Dai
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Xiaoyue Li
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Xia Liu
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Wei Ni
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Hui Li
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Jun Qiao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China.
| | - Yue Wang
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Yuying Cui
- College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China
| | - Xianzhu Xia
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China.
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China; College of Life Science, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832003, China.
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Ijiri M, Lai YC, Kawaguchi H, Fujimoto Y, Miura N, Matsuo T, Tanimoto A. NR6A1 Allelic Frequencies as an Index for both Miniaturizing and Increasing Pig Body Size. In Vivo 2021; 35:163-167. [PMID: 33402462 DOI: 10.21873/invivo.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM The number of vertebrae in swine varies from 19 to 23 and is associated with body size. Nuclear receptor subfamily 6 group A member 1 (NR6A1) is considered a strong candidate for affecting the number of vertebrae in swine. Wild boars, which uniformly have 19 vertebrae, have the wild type allele while multi-vertebrae European commercial pigs have the mutated allele. Our aim was to confirm the factor of the miniaturization. MATERIALS AND METHODS We examined vertebrae number and NR6A1 polymorphism in the Microminipig and three domestic breeds that vary in body size. RESULTS The Microminipig had 19 or less vertebrae and a wild type NR6A1 genotype. Three domestic breeds had more than 21 vertebrae while the largest vertebrae number was observed in multi-vertebrae-fixed Large White. Heterozygous genotypes were observed in the middle-sized indigenous pig while homozygous NR6A1 mutations were observed in European commercial breeds. CONCLUSION NR6A1 could be a useful index for both miniaturizing and increasing pig body size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moe Ijiri
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
| | - Yu-Chang Lai
- United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kawaguchi
- Department of Hygiene and Health Promotion Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan;
| | - Yoshikazu Fujimoto
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Naoki Miura
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Tomohide Matsuo
- Joint Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan.,United Graduate School of Veterinary Sciences, Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Akihide Tanimoto
- Department of Pathology, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima, Japan
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14
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Wang K, Zhang L, Duan D, Qiao R, Li X, Li X, Han X. Genomic Analysis Reveals Human-Mediated Introgression From European Commercial Pigs to Henan Indigenous Pigs. Front Genet 2021; 12:705803. [PMID: 34220966 PMCID: PMC8249855 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.705803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introgression of genetic features from European pigs into Chinese pigs was reported possibly contributing to improvements in productivity traits, such as feed conversion efficiency and body size. However, the genomic differences from European pigs and the potential role of introgression in Henan indigenous pigs remains unclear. In this study, we found significant introgression from European pigs into the genome of Chinese indigenous pigs, especially in Henan indigenous pigs. The introgression in Henan indigenous pigs, particularly in the Nanyang black pig, was mainly derived from Duroc pigs. Most importantly, we found that the NR6A1, GPD2, and CSRNP3 genes were introgressed and reshaped by artificial selection, and these may have contributed to increases in pig body size and feed conversion efficiency. Our results suggest that human-mediated introgression and selection have reshaped the genome of Henan pigs and improved several of their desired traits. These findings contribute to our understanding of the history of Henan indigenous pigs and provide insights into the genetic mechanisms affecting economically important traits in pig populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kejun Wang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lige Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Dongdong Duan
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruimin Qiao
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiuling Li
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinjian Li
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xuelei Han
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, China
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15
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Wu Z, Gong H, Zhang M, Tong X, Ai H, Xiao S, Perez-Enciso M, Yang B, Huang L. A worldwide map of swine short tandem repeats and their associations with evolutionary and environmental adaptations. Genet Sel Evol 2021; 53:39. [PMID: 33892623 PMCID: PMC8063339 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-021-00631-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Short tandem repeats (STRs) are genetic markers with a greater mutation rate than single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and are widely used in genetic studies and forensics. However, most studies in pigs have focused only on SNPs or on a limited number of STRs. Results This study screened 394 deep-sequenced genomes from 22 domesticated pig breeds/populations worldwide, wild boars from both Europe and Asia, and numerous outgroup Suidaes, and identified a set of 878,967 polymorphic STRs (pSTRs), which represents the largest repository of pSTRs in pigs to date. We found multiple lines of evidence that pSTRs in coding regions were affected by purifying selection. The enrichment of trinucleotide pSTRs in coding sequences (CDS), 5′UTR and H3K4me3 regions suggests that trinucleotide STRs serve as important components in the exons and promoters of the corresponding genes. We demonstrated that, compared to SNPs, pSTRs provide comparable or even greater accuracy in determining the breed identity of individuals. We identified pSTRs that showed significant population differentiation between domestic pigs and wild boars in Asia and Europe. We also observed that some pSTRs were significantly associated with environmental variables, such as average annual temperature or altitude of the originating sites of Chinese indigenous breeds, among which we identified loss-of-function and/or expanded STRs overlapping with genes such as AHR, LAS1L and PDK1. Finally, our results revealed that several pSTRs show stronger signals in domestic pig—wild boar differentiation or association with the analysed environmental variables than the flanking SNPs within a 100-kb window. Conclusions This study provides a genome-wide high-density map of pSTRs in diverse pig populations based on genome sequencing data, enabling a more comprehensive characterization of their roles in evolutionary and environmental adaptation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12711-021-00631-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongzi Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Huanfa Gong
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Mingpeng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xinkai Tong
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Huashui Ai
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Shijun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China
| | - Miguel Perez-Enciso
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Campus UAB, Barcelona, Spain.,ICREA, Passeig de Lluís Companys 23, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
| | - Lusheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, China.
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16
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Zhang S, Zhang K, Peng X, Zhan H, Lu J, Xie S, Zhao S, Li X, Ma Y. Selective sweep analysis reveals extensive parallel selection traits between large white and Duroc pigs. Evol Appl 2020; 13:2807-2820. [PMID: 33294024 PMCID: PMC7691457 DOI: 10.1111/eva.13085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In the process of pig genetic improvement, different commercial breeds have been bred for the same purpose, improving meat production. Most of the economic traits, such as growth and fertility, have been selected similarly despite the discrepant selection pressure, which is known as parallel selection. Here, 28 whole-genome sequencing data of Danish large white pigs with an approximately 25-fold depth each were generated, resulting in about 12 million high-quality SNPs for each individual. Combined with the sequencing data of 27 Duroc and 23 European wild boars, we investigated the parallel selection of Danish large white and Duroc pigs using two complementary methods, Fst and iHS. In total, 67 candidate regions were identified as the signatures of parallel selection. The genes in candidate regions of parallel selection were mainly associated with sensory perception, growth rate, and body size. Further functional annotation suggested that the striking consistency of the terms may be caused by the polygenetic basis of quantitative traits, and revealing the complex genetic basis of parallel selection. Besides, some unique terms were enriched in population-specific selection regions, such as the limb development-related terms enriched in Duroc-specific selection regions, suggesting unique selections of breed-specific selected traits. These results will help us better understand the parallel selection process of different breeds. Moreover, we identified several potential causal SNPs that may contribute to the pig genetic breeding process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saixian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Kaili Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xia Peng
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Huiwen Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Jiahui Lu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Shengsong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
| | - Yunlong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education & Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of AgricultureHuazhong Agricultural UniversityWuhanChina
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Wang Y, Zhao X, Wang C, Wang W, Zhang Q, Wu Y, Wang J. High-density single nucleotide polymorphism chip-based conservation genetic analysis of indigenous pig breeds from Shandong Province, China. Anim Biosci 2020; 34:1123-1133. [PMID: 33152210 PMCID: PMC8255875 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.20.0339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Shandong indigenous pig breeds are important Chinese pig resources. Their progressive population decline in recent decades has attracted attention towards their conservation. Conservation genetics of these indigenous breeds are essential for developing a conservation and utilization scheme. Methods A high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (HD-SNP) chip-based comparative analysis of genetic characteristics was performed for seven Shandong indigenous pig breeds in the context of five Western commercial breeds. Results The results showed that Shandong indigenous pig breeds varied greatly in genetic diversity, effective population size, inbreeding level, and genetic distance with the Western commercial breeds. Specifically, Laiwu and Dapulian displayed low genetic diversity, and had a genetically distant relationship with the Western commercial breeds (average F statistics [FST] value of 0.3226 and 0.2666, respectively). Contrastingly, the other five breeds (Yantai, Licha, Yimeng, Wulain, and Heigai) displayed high genetic diversity within breed and had some extent of mixture pattern with the Western commercial breeds, especially Duroc and Landrace (FST values from 0.1043 to 0.2536). Furthermore, intensive gene flow was discovered among the seven Shandong indigenous breeds, particularly Wulian, Licha, and Heigai, as indicated by the large cluster formed in the principal component analysis scatterplot and small population differentiation (average of 0.1253) among them. Conclusion Our study advances the understanding of genetic characteristics of Shandong indigenous breeds and provides essential information for developing an appropriate conservation and utilization scheme for these breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Xueyan Zhao
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Cheng Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
| | - Wenwen Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai' an 271018, China
| | - Qin Zhang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai' an 271018, China
| | - Ying Wu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China.,Shandong Xinji Animal Husbandry Co., Ltd, Tai' an 271018, China
| | - Jiying Wang
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Disease Control and Breeding, Institute of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan 250100, China
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18
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Lorenzini R, Fanelli R, Tancredi F, Siclari A, Garofalo L. Matching STR and SNP genotyping to discriminate between wild boar, domestic pigs and their recent hybrids for forensic purposes. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3188. [PMID: 32081854 PMCID: PMC7035276 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-59644-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic discrimination between phylogenetically close taxa can be challenging if their gene pools are not differentiated and there are many shared polymorphisms. The gene flow between wild boar (Sus scrofa) and domestic pig (S. s. domesticus) has never been interrupted from domestication onwards, due to non-stop natural and human-mediated crossbreeding. To date there are no individual genetic markers that are able to distinguish between the two forms, nor even to identify effectively their hybrids. We developed a combined molecular protocol based on multiplex porcine-specific STR-profiling system and new real time PCR-based assays of single polymorphisms in the NR6A1 and MC1R genes to gain high diagnostic power in the differentiation of wild boar, pig and hybrids for forensic purposes. The combined approach correctly assigned individuals to one or the other parental gene pool and identified admixed genotypes. Evidence was found for substantial reduction of false negative results by using multiple marker systems jointly, compared to their use individually. Our protocol is a powerful and cost-effective diagnostic tool that can easily be adopted by most forensic laboratories to assist authorities contrast food adulteration, assure veterinary public health and fight against wildlife crimes, like poaching and illegal detention of wild animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Lorenzini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana "M. Aleandri", Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Via Tancia 21, 02100, Rieti, Italy.
| | - Rita Fanelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana "M. Aleandri", Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Via Tancia 21, 02100, Rieti, Italy
| | - Francesco Tancredi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana "M. Aleandri", Via Tancia 21, 02100, Rieti, Italy
| | - Antonino Siclari
- Ente Parco Nazionale dell'Aspromonte, Via Aurora 1, 89057 Gambarie di S. Stefano in Aspromonte, Reggio Calabria, Italy
| | - Luisa Garofalo
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana "M. Aleandri", Centro di Referenza Nazionale per la Medicina Forense Veterinaria, Via Tancia 21, 02100, Rieti, Italy
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Fang X, Lai Z, Liu J, Zhang C, Li S, Wu F, Zhou Z, Lei C, Dang R. A Novel 13 bp Deletion within the NR6A1 Gene Is Significantly Associated with Growth Traits in Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9090681. [PMID: 31540006 PMCID: PMC6770516 DOI: 10.3390/ani9090681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The detection of genes potentially associated with economic traits and identification of effective variants can provide a basis for molecular marker-assisted selection of livestock. NR6A1 is a member of the nuclear receptor family and is an important candidate gene related to body size traits. Previous studies showed that NR6A1 gene was associated with body size traits in pigs and other livestock, however, it has not yet been observed in donkeys. In the current study, a 13 bp deletion in NR6A1 gene was firstly identified in donkeys. Analysis showed that this deletion had significant associations with body size traits. Abstract Nuclear receptor subfamily 6, group A, member 1 (NR6A1), as an important member of the nuclear receptor family, plays an important role in regulating growth, metabolism, and differentiation of embryonic stem cells. For this reason, the NR6A1 gene is considered to be a promising candidate for economic traits and was found to be associated with body size traits in many livestock. However, no studies have been conducted on NR6A1 in donkeys so far. Thus, in this research, we focused on donkeys and identified a 13 bp deletion in intron-1 of the NR6A1 gene among 408 individuals from Guanzhong and Dezhou donkeys using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three genotypes were identified, namely II, ID, and DD. The association analysis indicated that the body lengths and body heights5f genotype II individuals were significantly different to those of genotype ID in Dezhou donkeys. Conclusively, the 13 bp deletion was associated with growth traits in both Guanzhong donkeys and Dezhou donkeys, indicating that the NR6A1 gene could be a possible candidate gene in marker-assisted selection for donkey breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiya Fang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Zhenyu Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Jie Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Chunlan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Shipeng Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Fei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Zihui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Chuzhao Lei
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
| | - Ruihua Dang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Xianyang 712100, China.
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20
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Li C, Li M, Li X, Ni W, Xu Y, Yao R, Wei B, Zhang M, Li H, Zhao Y, Liu L, Ullah Y, Jiang Y, Hu S. Whole-Genome Resequencing Reveals Loci Associated With Thoracic Vertebrae Number in Sheep. Front Genet 2019; 10:674. [PMID: 31379930 PMCID: PMC6657399 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of vertebrae, especially thoracic vertebrae, is an important economic trait that may influence carcass length and meat production in animals. However, the genetic basis of vertebrae number in sheep is still poorly understood. To detect the candidate genes, 400 increased number of thoracic vertebrae (T14L6) and 200 normal (T13L6) Kazakh sheep were collected. We generated and sequenced 60 pools of genomic DNA (each pool prepared by mixing genomic DNA from 10 sheep with the same thoracic traits), with an average depth of coverage of 25.65×. We identified a total of 42,075,402 SNPs and 11 putatively selected genomic regions, including the VRTN gene and the HoxA gene family that regulate vertebral development. The most prominent areas of selective elimination were located in a region of chromosome 7, including VRTN, which regulates spinal development and morphology. Further investigation indicated that the expression level of the VRTN gene during fetal development was significantly higher in sheep with more thoracic vertebrae than in those with a normal number of thoracic vertebrae. A genome-wide comparison between sheep with increased and normal numbers of thoracic vertebrae showed that the VRTN gene is the major selection locus for the number of thoracic vertebrae in sheep and has the potential to be utilized in sheep breeding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cunyuan Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China.,College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Ming Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Xiaoyue Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Wei Ni
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yueren Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Rui Yao
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Bin Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Mengdan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Huixiang Li
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yue Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Li Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yaseen Ullah
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Xianyang, China
| | - Shengwei Hu
- College of Life Sciences, Shihezi University, Shihezi, China
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21
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Li S, Luo R, Lai D, Ma M, Hao F, Qi X, Liu X, Liu D. Whole-genome resequencing of Ujumqin sheep to investigate the determinants of the multi-vertebral trait. Genome 2018; 61:653-661. [PMID: 30001497 DOI: 10.1139/gen-2017-0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The Ujumqin sheep is one of the most profitable breeds in China, with unique multi-vertebral characteristics. We performed high-throughput genome resequencing of five multi-vertebral and three non-multi-vertebral sheep in an Ujumqin population. We identified the genomic regions that correlated with the germplasm characteristics to establish the cause of the "multi-vertebral" phenotype in this breed. Sequencing generated a total of 314 952 000 000 bp of raw data. The alignment rate of all the samples was between 98.53% and 99.11%, and the mean depth of coverage relative to the reference genome was between 11.58× and 14.92×. After comparing the differences between the two groups, we identified 21 homozygous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the mutant exons of 14 genes. Nineteen loci of 10 genes contained nonsynonymous mutations, while two loci contained synonymous mutations. Resequencing revealed homozygous mutations comprised of 44 indels located within exons of 19 genes. These indels included 37 frameshift mutations, 6 non-frameshift mutations, and 1 stopgain single nucleotide variation (SNV). Finally, comparisons of genotypic variations revealed 17 genes with homozygous mutations in their coding regions, 5 of which have previously been associated with vertebral development and the remaining 12 genes were newly identified in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Rongsong Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Defang Lai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Min Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Fei Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Xuan Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Xu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
| | - Dongjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation & Breeding of Grassland Livestock, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia, Hohhot, 010070, P.R. China
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22
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Huang J, Zhang M, Ye R, Ma Y, Lei C. Effects of increased vertebral number on carcass weight in PIC pigs. Anim Sci J 2017; 88:2057-2062. [PMID: 28776879 DOI: 10.1111/asj.12881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Variation of the vertebral number is associated with carcass traits in pigs. However, results from different populations do not match well with others, especially for carcass weight. Therefore, effects of increased vertebral number on carcass weight were investigated by analyzing the relationship between two loci multi-vertebra causal loci (NR6A1 g.748 C > T and VRTN g.20311_20312ins291) and carcass weight in PIC pigs. Results from the association study between vertebral number and carcass weight showed that increased thoracic number had negative effects on carcass weight, but the results were not statistically significant. Further, VRTN Ins/Ins genotype increased more than one thoracic than that of Wt/Wt genotype on average in this PIC population. Meanwhile, there was a significant negative effect of VRTN Ins on carcass weight (P < 0.05). Thus, our results suggested negative effect of increased thoracic number on carcass weight in PIC pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieping Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.,College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, Henan, China.,Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang, Henan, China
| | - Mingming Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.,College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, Henan, China.,Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang, Henan, China
| | - Runqing Ye
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, Henan, China.,Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang, Henan, China
| | - Yun Ma
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang, Henan, China.,Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang, Henan, China
| | - Chuzhao Lei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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23
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Li C, Zhang X, Cao Y, Wei J, You S, Jiang Y, Cai K, Wumaier W, Guo D, Qi J, Chen C, Ni W, Hu S. Multi-vertebrae variation potentially contribute to carcass length and weight of Kazakh sheep. Small Rumin Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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24
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Yan G, Qiao R, Zhang F, Xin W, Xiao S, Huang T, Zhang Z, Huang L. Imputation-Based Whole-Genome Sequence Association Study Rediscovered the Missing QTL for Lumbar Number in Sutai Pigs. Sci Rep 2017; 7:615. [PMID: 28377593 PMCID: PMC5429657 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-00729-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Resequencing a number of individuals of various breeds as reference population and imputing the whole-genome sequences of individuals that were genotyped with medium-density chips to perform an association study is a very efficient strategy. Previously, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of lumbar number using 60K SNPs from the porcine Illumina chips in 418 Sutai pigs and did not detect any significant signals. Therefore, we imputed the whole-genome sequences of 418 Sutai individuals from 403 deeply resequenced reference individuals and performed association tests. We identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) for lumbar number in SSC1 with a P value of 9.01E-18 that was close to the potential causative gene of NR6A1. The result of conditioning on the top SNP association test indicated that only one QTL was responsible for this trait in SSC1. The linkage disequilibrium (LD) drop test result for the condition of the reported potential causative mutation (c.575T > C missense mutation of NR6A1) indicated that this mutation was probably not the underlying mutation that affected lumbar number in our study. As the first trial of imputed whole-genome sequence GWAS in swine, this approach can be also powerful to investigate complex traits in pig like in human and cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guorong Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
| | - Ruimin Qiao
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Agricultural University, 450002, Zhengzhou, P.R. China
| | - Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
| | - Wenshui Xin
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
| | - Shijun Xiao
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
| | - Tao Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China.
| | - Lusheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory for Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045, Nanchang, P.R. China
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25
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Rohrer GA, Nonneman DJ, Wiedmann RT, Schneider JF. A study of vertebra number in pigs confirms the association of vertnin and reveals additional QTL. BMC Genet 2015; 16:129. [PMID: 26518887 PMCID: PMC4628235 DOI: 10.1186/s12863-015-0286-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Formation of the vertebral column is a critical developmental stage in mammals. The strict control of this process has resulted in little variation in number of vertebrae across mammalian species and no variation within most mammalian species. The pig is quite unique as considerable variation exists in number of thoracic vertebrae as well as number of lumbar vertebrae. At least two genes have been identified that affect number of vertebrae in pigs yet considerable genetic variation still exists. Therefore, a genome-wide association (GWA) analysis was conducted to identify additional genomic regions that affect this trait. Results A total of 1883 animals were phenotyped for the number of ribs and thoracolumbar vertebrae as well as successfully genotyped with the Illumina Porcine SNP60 BeadChip. After data editing, 41,148 SNP markers were included in the GWA analysis. These animals were also phenotyped for kyphosis. Fifty-three 1 Mb windows each explained at least 1.0 % of the genomic variation for vertebrae counts while 16 regions were significant for kyphosis. Vertnin genotype significantly affected vertebral counts as well. The region with the largest effect for number of lumbar vertebrae and thoracolumbar vertebrae were located over the Hox B gene cluster and the largest association for thoracic vertebrae number was over the Hox A gene cluster. Genetic markers in significant regions accounted for approximately 50 % of the genomic variation. Less genomic variation for kyphosis was described by QTL regions and no region was associated with kyphosis and vertebra counts. Conclusions The importance of the Hox gene families in vertebral development was highlighted as significant associations were detected over the A, B and C families. Further evaluation of these regions and characterization of variants within these genes will expand our knowledge on vertebral development using natural genetic variants segregating in commercial swine. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12863-015-0286-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary A Rohrer
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA.
| | - Dan J Nonneman
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA.
| | - Ralph T Wiedmann
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA.
| | - James F Schneider
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, 68933, USA.
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26
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Allelic frequencies of NR6A1 and VRTN, two genes that affect vertebrae number in diverse pig breeds: A study of the effects of the VRTN insertion on phenotypic traits of a Duroc×Landrace–Large White cross. Meat Sci 2015; 100:150-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.09.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 09/11/2014] [Accepted: 09/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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27
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Li M, Tian S, Yeung CKL, Meng X, Tang Q, Niu L, Wang X, Jin L, Ma J, Long K, Zhou C, Cao Y, Zhu L, Bai L, Tang G, Gu Y, Jiang A, Li X, Li R. Whole-genome sequencing of Berkshire (European native pig) provides insights into its origin and domestication. Sci Rep 2014; 4:4678. [PMID: 24728479 PMCID: PMC3985078 DOI: 10.1038/srep04678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Domesticated organisms have experienced strong selective pressures directed at genes or genomic regions controlling traits of biological, agricultural or medical importance. The genome of native and domesticated pigs provide a unique opportunity for tracing the history of domestication and identifying signatures of artificial selection. Here we used whole-genome sequencing to explore the genetic relationships among the European native pig Berkshire and breeds that are distributed worldwide, and to identify genomic footprints left by selection during the domestication of Berkshire. Numerous nonsynonymous SNPs-containing genes fall into olfactory-related categories, which are part of a rapidly evolving superfamily in the mammalian genome. Phylogenetic analyses revealed a deep phylogenetic split between European and Asian pigs rather than between domestic and wild pigs. Admixture analysis exhibited higher portion of Chinese genetic material for the Berkshire pigs, which is consistent with the historical record regarding its origin. Selective sweep analyses revealed strong signatures of selection affecting genomic regions that harbor genes underlying economic traits such as disease resistance, pork yield, fertility, tameness and body length. These discoveries confirmed the history of origin of Berkshire pig by genome-wide analysis and illustrate how domestication has shaped the patterns of genetic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzhou Li
- 1] Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China [2] Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China [3]
| | - Shilin Tian
- 1] Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China [2]
| | - Carol K L Yeung
- 1] Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China [2]
| | - Xuehong Meng
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianzi Tang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Lili Niu
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Xun Wang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Long Jin
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Jideng Ma
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Keren Long
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaowei Zhou
- 1] Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China [2] Department of Animal Science, Southwest University at Rongchang, Chongqing 402460, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinchuan Cao
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Zhu
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Bai
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoqing Tang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiren Gu
- Sichuan Animal Science Academy, Chengdu 610066, People's Republic of China
| | - An'an Jiang
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuewei Li
- Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an 625014, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruiqiang Li
- 1] Biodynamic Optical Imaging Center (BIOPIC), Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, and School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China [2] Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China
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Donaldson CL, Lambe NR, Maltin CA, Knott S, Bunger L. Between- and within-breed variations of spine characteristics in sheep. J Anim Sci 2012; 91:995-1004. [PMID: 23243168 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2012-5456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Implementing the use of spine traits in a commercial breeding program has been seen to improve meat production from the carcass of larger-bodied pigs. The aim of this study was to assess the extent of variation in spine characteristics within and between breeds of sheep and to investigate the association with body length and tissues traits to deliberate if a similar approach could be applicable in the sheep sector. Spine traits (vertebrae number, VN; spine region length, SPL; individual vertebra length, VL) of the thoracic (THOR) lumbar (LUM) and thoracolumbar (T+L) spine regions were measured using x-ray computed tomography (CT) on 254 Texel (TEX), 1100 Scottish Blackface (SBF), 326 Texel cross Mule (TEX × MULE), and 178 Poll Dorset cross Mule (PD × MULE) lambs. Simple descriptive statistics inform that variation in thoracolumbar VN exists within all breeds and crosses; TEX animals showed the largest range of variation in thoracolumbar VN (17 to 21) and the TEX × MULE the smallest (18 to 20). Significant differences were not observed between sexes, but did occur between breeds (P < 0.05), which is indicative of a genetic basis for these traits. Least-squares means identified that TEX had the least thoracolumbar VN (19.24) and SBF possessed the most (19.63); similarly the lowest measures for SPL and VL for each spine region were observed in TEX, but the greatest values for these traits were expressed predominantly in the crosses (TEX × MULE and PD × MULE). Correlation coefficients (r) within each breed or cross support the interpretation of additional vertebrae contributing to a longer length of the spine region in which they occur (P < 0.001; e.g., for PD × MULE lambs), r between traits VNTHOR and SPLTHOR (r = 0.59), VNLUM and SPLLUM (r = 0.94) and VNT+L and SPLT+L (r = 0.65) all reach moderate to very high values. In all breeds and crosses, this relationship is particularly strong for the lumbar region. The few significant (P < 0.05) correlations observed between spine and tissue traits [CT-predicted quantities of carcass fat and muscle (kg) and area of the LM (mm(2))] indicated no substantial relationships, r was small (ranging from -0.25 to 0.19) in each case. To conclude, significant vertebral variation exists within and between sheep breeds and crosses, which can contribute to an increase in body (and carcass) length. Including measurements taken for other primal cuts will further aid in assessing any potential increase in meat production from these longer-bodied sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Donaldson
- Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK.
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Yang M, Yang B, Yan X, Ouyang J, Zeng W, Ai H, Ren J, Huang L. Nucleotide variability and linkage disequilibrium patterns in the porcine MUC4 gene. BMC Genet 2012; 13:57. [PMID: 22793500 PMCID: PMC3505144 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-13-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background MUC4 is a type of membrane anchored glycoprotein and serves as the major constituent of mucus that covers epithelial surfaces of many tissues such as trachea, colon and cervix. MUC4 plays important roles in the lubrication and protection of the surface epithelium, cell proliferation and differentiation, immune response, cell adhesion and cancer development. To gain insights into the evolution of the porcine MUC4 gene, we surveyed the nucleotide variability and linkage disequilibrium (LD) within this gene in Chinese indigenous breeds and Western commercial breeds. Results A total of 53 SNPs covering the MUC4 gene were genotyped on 5 wild boars and 307 domestic pigs representing 11 Chinese breeds and 3 Western breeds. The nucleotide variability, haplotype phylogeny and LD extent of MUC4 were analyzed in these breeds. Both Chinese and Western breeds had considerable nucleotide diversity at the MUC4 locus. Western pig breeds like Duroc and Large White have comparable nucleotide diversity as many of Chinese breeds, thus artificial selection for lean pork production have not reduced the genetic variability of MUC4 in Western commercial breeds. Haplotype phylogeny analyses indicated that MUC4 had evolved divergently in Chinese and Western pigs. The dendrogram of genetic differentiation between breeds generally reflected demographic history and geographical distribution of these breeds. LD patterns were unexpectedly similar between Chinese and Western breeds, in which LD usually extended less than 20 kb. This is different from the presumed high LD extent (more than 100 kb) in Western commercial breeds. The significant positive Tajima’D, and Fu and Li’s D statistics in a few Chinese and Western breeds implied that MUC4 might undergo balancing selection in domestic breeds. Nevertheless, we cautioned that the significant statistics could be upward biased by SNP ascertainment process. Conclusions Chinese and Western breeds have similar nucleotide diversity but evolve divergently in the MUC4 region. Western breeds exhibited unusual low LD extent at the MUC4 locus, reflecting the complexity of nucleotide variability of pig genome. The finding suggests that high density (e.g. 1SNP/10 kb) markers are required to capture the underlying causal variants at such regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Biotechnology of Jiangxi Province and the Ministry of Agriculture of China, Jiangxi Agricultural University, 330045 Nanchang, China
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Mikawa S, Sato S, Nii M, Morozumi T, Yoshioka G, Imaeda N, Yamaguchi T, Hayashi T, Awata T. Identification of a second gene associated with variation in vertebral number in domestic pigs. BMC Genet 2011; 12:5. [PMID: 21232157 PMCID: PMC3024977 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-12-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2010] [Accepted: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The number of vertebrae in pigs varies and is associated with body size. Wild boars have 19 vertebrae, but European commercial breeds for pork production have 20 to 23 vertebrae. We previously identified two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for number of vertebrae on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) 1 and 7, and reported that an orphan nuclear receptor, NR6A1, was located at the QTL on SSC1. At the NR6A1 locus, wild boars and Asian local breed pigs had the wild-type allele and European commercial-breed pigs had an allele associated with increased numbers of vertebrae (number-increase allele). Results Here, we performed a map-based study to define the other QTL, on SSC7, for which we detected genetic diversity in European commercial breeds. Haplotype analysis with microsatellite markers revealed a 41-kb conserved region within all the number-increase alleles in the present study. We also developed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 450-kb region around the QTL and used them for a linkage disequilibrium analysis and an association study in 199 independent animals. Three haplotype blocks were detected, and SNPs in the 41-kb region presented the highest associations with the number of vertebrae. This region encodes an uncharacterized hypothetical protein that is not a member of any other known gene family. Orthologs appear to exist not only in mammals but also birds and fish. This gene, which we have named vertnin (VRTN) is a candidate for the gene associated with variation in vertebral number. In pigs, the number-increase allele was expressed more abundantly than the wild-type allele in embryos. Among candidate polymorphisms, there is an insertion of a SINE element (PRE1) into the intron of the Q allele as well as the SNPs in the promoter region. Conclusions Genetic diversity of VRTN is the suspected cause of the heterogeneity of the number of vertebrae in commercial-breed pigs, so the polymorphism information should be directly useful for assessing the genetic ability of individual animals. The number-increase allele of swine VRTN was suggested to add an additional thoracic segment to the animal. Functional analysis of VRTN may provide novel findings in the areas of developmental biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satoshi Mikawa
- National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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