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Banks CM, Trott JF, Hovey RC. The prolactin receptor: A cross-species comparison of gene structure, transcriptional regulation, tissue-specificity, and genetic variation. J Neuroendocrinol 2024; 36:e13385. [PMID: 38586906 DOI: 10.1111/jne.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
The conserved and multifaceted functions of prolactin (PRL) are coordinated through varied distribution and expression of its cell-surface receptor (PRLR) across a range of tissues and physiological states. The resultant heterogeneous expression of PRLR mRNA and protein across different organs and cell types supports a wide range of PRL-regulated processes including reproduction, lactation, development, and homeostasis. Genetic variation within the PRLR gene also accounts for several phenotypes impacting agricultural production and human pathology. The goal of this review is to highlight the many elements that control differential expression of the PRLR across tissues, and the various phenotypes that exist across species due to variation in the PRLR gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen M Banks
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Josephine F Trott
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Russell C Hovey
- Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, USA
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2
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Derks MFL, Steensma M. Review: Balancing Selection for Deleterious Alleles in Livestock. Front Genet 2021; 12:761728. [PMID: 34925454 PMCID: PMC8678120 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.761728] [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: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Harmful alleles can be under balancing selection due to an interplay of artificial selection for the variant in heterozygotes and purifying selection against the variant in homozygotes. These pleiotropic variants can remain at moderate to high frequency expressing an advantage for favorable traits in heterozygotes, while harmful in homozygotes. The impact on the population and selection strength depends on the consequence of the variant both in heterozygotes and homozygotes. The deleterious phenotype expressed in homozygotes can range from early lethality to a slightly lower fitness in the population. In this review, we explore a range of causative variants under balancing selection including loss-of-function variation (i.e., frameshift, stop-gained variants) and regulatory variation (affecting gene expression). We report that harmful alleles often affect orthologous genes in different species, often influencing analogous traits. The recent discoveries are mainly driven by the increasing genomic and phenotypic resources in livestock populations. However, the low frequency and sometimes subtle effects in homozygotes prevent accurate mapping of such pleiotropic variants, which requires novel strategies to discover. After discovery, the selection strategy for deleterious variants under balancing selection is under debate, as variants can contribute to the heterosis effect in crossbred animals in various livestock species, compensating for the loss in purebred animals. Nevertheless, gene-assisted selection is a useful tool to decrease the frequency of the harmful allele in the population, if desired. Together, this review marks various deleterious variants under balancing selection and describing the functional consequences at the molecular, phenotypic, and population level, providing a resource for further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn F L Derks
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands.,Topigs Norsvin Research Center, Beuningen, Netherlands
| | - Marije Steensma
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Search for Associations of FSHR, INHA, INHAB, PRL, TNP2 and SPEF2 Genes Polymorphisms with Semen Quality in Russian Holstein Bulls (Pilot Study). Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11102882. [PMID: 34679903 PMCID: PMC8532936 DOI: 10.3390/ani11102882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to search for new mutations in the previously studied gene loci of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), inhibin α (INHA), inhibin β A (INHAB), prolactin (PRL), transition protein 2 (TNP2), and sperm flagella 2 (SPEF2) by sequencing, as well as the search for associations of previously identified mutations at these loci with fresh semen quality in Russian Holstein bulls. Phenotypic data from 189 bulls was collected. Data was analyzed for most bulls for three years of semen collection. The maximum value of each semen quality indicator (doublet ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, progressive motility and total number of spermatozoa) were selected. SNPs were identified in the FSHR, INHA, INHAB, TNP2, SPEF2 genes. The PRL gene did not have polymorphism. Significant (p < 0.05) associations of polymorphisms in the FSHR gene with double ejaculate volume, concentration and total number of spermatozoa were identified. Polymorphism in the INHA gene was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with sperm concentration. Polymorphism in the INHAB gene was significantly associated (p < 0.05) with doublet ejaculate volume and total number of spermatozoa. Polymorphisms in the TNP2 and SPEF2 genes did not have significant associations with semen quality. The SNPs studied in our pilot work may be considered as candidate genetic markers in the selection of bulls.
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Cumer T, Boyer F, Pompanon F. Genome-Wide Detection of Structural Variations Reveals New Regions Associated with Domestication in Small Ruminants. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 13:evab165. [PMID: 34264322 PMCID: PMC8350358 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evab165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During domestication processes, changes in selective pressures induce multiple phenotypical, physiological, and behavioral changes in target species. The rise of next-generation sequencing has provided a chance to study the genetics bases of these changes, most of the time based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). However, several studies have highlighted the impact of structural variations (SVs) on individual fitness, particularly in domestic species. We aimed at unraveling the role of SVs during the domestication and later improvement of small ruminants by analyzing whole-genome sequences of 40 domestic sheep and 11 of their close wild relatives (Ovis orientalis), and 40 goats and 18 of their close wild relatives (Capra aegagrus). Using a combination of detection tools, we called 45,796 SVs in Ovis and 15,047 SVs in Capra genomes, including insertions, deletions, inversions, copy number variations, and chromosomal translocations. Most of these SVs were previously unreported in small ruminants. 69 and 45 SVs in sheep and goats, respectively, were in genomic regions with neighboring SNPs highly differentiated between wilds and domestics (i.e., putatively related to domestication). Among them, 25 and 20 SVs were close to or overlapping with genes related to physiological and morpho-anatomical traits linked with productivity (e.g., size, meat or milk quality, wool color), reproduction, or immunity. Finally, several of the SVs differentiated between wilds and domestics would not have been detected by screening only the differentiation of SNPs surrounding them, highlighting the complementarity of SVs and SNPs based approaches to detect signatures of selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Cumer
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - Frédéric Boyer
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
| | - François Pompanon
- Université Grenoble Alpes, Université Savoie Mont-Blanc, CNRS, LECA, Grenoble, France
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SINE Insertion in the Intron of Pig GHR May Decrease Its Expression by Acting as a Repressor. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071871. [PMID: 34201672 PMCID: PMC8300111 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary GH/IGF axis genes play a central role in the regulation of skeletal accretion during development and growth, and thus represent candidate genes for growth traits. Retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms are major contributors to structural variations. They tend to generate large effect mutations resulting in variations in target gene activity and phenotype due to the fact that they carry functional elements, such as enhancers, insulators, or promoters. In the present study, RIPs in four GH/IGF axis genes (GH, GHR, IGF1, and IGF1R) were investigated by comparative genomics and PCR. Four RIPs in the GHR gene and one RIP in the IGF1 gene were identified. Further analysis revealed that one RIP in the first intron of GHR might play a role in the regulation of GHR expression by acting as a repressor. These findings contribute to the understanding of the role of RIPs in the genetic variation of GH/IGF axis genes and phenotypic variation in pigs. Abstract The genetic diversity of the GH/IGF axis genes and their association with the variation of gene expression and phenotypic traits, principally represented by SNPs, have been extensively reported. Nevertheless, the impact of retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms (RIPs) on the GH/IGF axis gene activity has not been reported. In the present study, bioinformatic prediction and PCR verification were performed to screen RIPs in four GH/IGF axis genes (GH, GHR, IGF1 and IGF1R). In total, five RIPs, including one SINE RIP in intron 3 of IGF1, one L1 RIP in intron 7 of GHR, and three SINE RIPs in intron 1, intron 5 and intron 9 of GHR, were confirmed by PCR, displaying polymorphisms in diverse breeds. Dual luciferase reporter assay revealed that the SINE insertion in intron 1 of GHR significantly repressed the GHR promoter activity in PK15, Hela, C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells. Furthermore, qPCR results confirmed that this SINE insertion was associated with a decreased expression of GHR in the leg muscle and longissimus dorsi, indicating that it may act as a repressor involved in the regulation of GHR expression. In summary, our data revealed that RIPs contribute to the genetic variation of GH/IGF axis genes, whereby one SINE RIP in the intron 1 of GHR may decrease the expression of GHR by acting as a repressor.
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Genetic Diversity and Population Structures in Chinese Miniature Pigs Revealed by SINE Retrotransposon Insertion Polymorphisms, a New Type of Genetic Markers. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11041136. [PMID: 33921134 PMCID: PMC8071531 DOI: 10.3390/ani11041136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Our previous studies suggested that the short interspersed nuclear element (SINE) retrotransposon insertion polymorphisms (RIPs), as a new type of molecular marker developed very recently, are ideal molecular markers and have the potential to be used for population genetic analysis and molecular breeding in pigs and possibly it can be extended to other livestock animals as well. However, no report is available for the application of SINE RIPs in population genetic analysis in livestock, including pigs. Here, we evaluated 30 SINE RIPs in several indigenous Chinese miniature pig breeds, including three subpopulations of Bama pigs (BM-cov, BM-clo, and BM-inb). BM-cov is a subpopulation conserved in the national conservation farm, and BM-clo is a closed population maintained over 30 years with only 2 boars and 14 sows imported from its original area, while BM-inb herd is an 18 generation continuous inbreeding line based on the BM-clo population. To our knowledge, it is the first time to report the genetic diversity, breed differentiation, and population structures for these populations by using SINE RIPs, and which suggests the feasibility of SINE RIPs in pig genetic analysis. Abstract RIPs have been developed as effective genetic markers and popularly applied for genetic analysis in plants, but few reports are available for domestic animals. Here, we established 30 new molecular markers based on the SINE RIPs, and applied them for population genetic analysis in seven Chinese miniature pigs. The data revealed that the closed herd (BM-clo), inbreeding herd (BM-inb) of Bama miniature pigs were distinctly different from the BM-cov herds in the conservation farm, and other miniature pigs (Wuzhishan, Congjiang Xiang, Tibetan, and Mingguang small ear). These later five miniature pig breeds can further be classified into two clades based on a phylogenetic tree: one included BM-cov and Wuzhishan, the other included Congjiang Xiang, Tibetan, and Mingguang small ear, which was well-supported by structure analysis. The polymorphic information contents estimated by using SINE RIPs are lower than the predictions based on microsatellites. Overall, the genetic distances and breed-relationships between these populations revealed by 30 SINE RIPs generally agree with their evolutions and geographic distributions. We demonstrated the potential of SINE RIPs as new genetic markers for genetic monitoring and population structure analysis in pigs, which can even be extended to other livestock animals.
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Liu X, Wu Z, Li J, Bao H, Wu C. Genome-Wide Association Study and Transcriptome Differential Expression Analysis of the Feather Rate in Shouguang Chickens. Front Genet 2021; 11:613078. [PMID: 33414812 PMCID: PMC7783405 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.613078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The feather rate phenotype in chicks, including early-feathering and late-feathering phenotypes, are widely used as a sexing system in the poultry industry. The objective of this study was to obtain candidate genes associated with the feather rate in Shouguang chickens. In the present study, we collected 56 blood samples and 12 hair follicle samples of flight feathers from female Shouguang chickens. Then we identified the chromosome region associated with the feather rate by genome-wide association analysis (GWAS). We also performed RNA sequencing and analyzed differentially expressed genes between the early-feathering and late-feathering phenotypes using HISAT2, StringTie, and DESeq2. We identified a genomic region of 10.0–13.0 Mb of chromosome Z, which is statistically associated with the feather rate of Shouguang chickens at one-day old. After RNA sequencing analysis, 342 differentially expressed known genes between the early-feathering (EF) and late-feathering (LF) phenotypes were screened out, which were involved in epithelial cell differentiation, intermediate filament organization, protein serine kinase activity, peptidyl-serine phosphorylation, retinoic acid binding, and so on. The sperm flagellar 2 gene (SPEF2) and prolactin receptor (PRLR) gene were the only two overlapping genes between the results of GWAS and differential expression analysis, which implies that SPEF2 and PRLR are possible candidate genes for the formation of the chicken feathering phenotype in the present study. Our findings help to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the feather rate in chicks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiayi Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhou Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.,Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Junying Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haigang Bao
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Changxin Wu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Sha Y, Liu W, Wei X, Zhu X, Luo X, Liang L, Guo T. Biallelic mutations in Sperm flagellum 2 cause human multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) phenotype. Clin Genet 2019; 96:385-393. [PMID: 31278745 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Male patients with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are infertile and exhibit absent, short, coiled, bent and/or irregular sperm flagella. Mutations in the SPEF2 gene reduce sperm motility and cause sperm tail defects in animal models and humans. In the present study, we performed a genetic analysis on an MMAF patient and identified novel biallelic mutations in the SPEF2 gene. The biallelic mutations were confirmed by Sanger sequencing and in silico analysis revealed that, these variations were deleterious. The expression of truncated SPEF2 protein was reduced significantly in the patient's spermatozoa. The spermatozoa harbored biallelic mutations and showed severe ultrastructural defects in the axoneme and mitochondrial sheath. Our data suggest that biallelic mutations in SPEF2 can cause severe sperm flagellum defects, thus providing a novel candidate genetic pathogen for the human MMAF phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xingshen Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xiangmin Luo
- Reproductive Medicine Center, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
| | - Lei Liang
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Center for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Tonghang Guo
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
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Chen C, Wang W, Wang X, Shen D, Wang S, Wang Y, Gao B, Wimmers K, Mao J, Li K, Song C. Retrotransposons evolution and impact on lncRNA and protein coding genes in pigs. Mob DNA 2019; 10:19. [PMID: 31080521 PMCID: PMC6501411 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-019-0161-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Retrotransposons are the major determinants of genome sizes and they have shaped both genes and genomes in mammalian organisms, but their overall activity, diversity, and evolution dynamics, particularly their impact on protein coding and lncRNA genes in pigs remain largely unknown. RESULTS In the present study, we performed de novo detection of retrotransposons in pigs by using multiple pipelines, four distinct families of pig-specific L1 s classified into 51 distinct subfamilies and representing four evolution models and three expansion waves of pig-specific SINEs represented by three distinct families were identified. ERVs were classified into 18 families and found two most "modern" subfamilies in the pig genome. The transposition activity of pig L1 was verified by experiment, the sense and antisense promoter activities of young L1 5'UTRs and ERV LTRs and expression profiles of young retrotransposons in multiple tissues and cell lines were also validated. Furthermore, retrotransposons had an extensive impact on lncRNA and protein coding genes at both the genomic and transcriptomic levels. Most protein coding and lncRNA (> 80%) genes contained retrotransposon insertions, and about half of protein coding genes (44.30%) and one-fourth (24.13%) of lncRNA genes contained the youngest retrotransposon insertions. Nearly half of protein coding genes (43.78%) could generate chimeric transcripts with retrotransposons. Significant distribution bias of retrotransposon composition, location, and orientation in lncRNA and protein coding genes, and their transcripts, were observed. CONCLUSIONS In the current study, we characterized the classification and evolution profile of retrotransposons in pigs, experimentally proved the transposition activity of the young pig L1 subfamily, characterized the sense and antisense expression profiles and promoter activities of young retrotransposons, and investigated their impact on lncRNA and protein coding genes by defining the mobilome landscapes at the genomic and transcriptomic levels. These findings help provide a better understanding of retrotransposon evolution in mammal and their impact on the genome and transcriptome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cai Chen
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Wei Wang
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Dan Shen
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Saisai Wang
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Yali Wang
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Bo Gao
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
| | - Klaus Wimmers
- Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Jiude Mao
- Life Science Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA
| | - Kui Li
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chengyi Song
- Institute of Animal Mobilome and Genome, College of Animal Science & Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009 Jiangsu China
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Derks MFL, Lopes MS, Bosse M, Madsen O, Dibbits B, Harlizius B, Groenen MAM, Megens HJ. Balancing selection on a recessive lethal deletion with pleiotropic effects on two neighboring genes in the porcine genome. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007661. [PMID: 30231021 PMCID: PMC6166978 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock populations can be used to study recessive defects caused by deleterious alleles. The frequency of deleterious alleles including recessive lethal alleles can stay at high or moderate frequency within a population, especially if recessive lethal alleles exhibit an advantage for favourable traits in heterozygotes. In this study, we report such a recessive lethal deletion of 212kb (del) within the BBS9 gene in a breeding population of pigs. The deletion produces a truncated BBS9 protein expected to cause a complete loss-of-function, and we find a reduction of approximately 20% on the total number of piglets born from carrier by carrier matings. Homozygous del/del animals die mid- to late-gestation, as observed from high increase in numbers of mummified piglets resulting from carrier-by-carrier crosses. The moderate 10.8% carrier frequency (5.4% allele frequency) in this pig population suggests an advantage on a favourable trait in heterozygotes. Indeed, heterozygous carriers exhibit increased growth rate, an important selection trait in pig breeding. Increased growth and appetite together with a lower birth weight for carriers of the BBS9 null allele in pigs is analogous to the phenotype described in human and mouse for (naturally occurring) BBS9 null-mutants. We show that fetal death, however, is induced by reduced expression of the downstream BMPER gene, an essential gene for normal foetal development. In conclusion, this study describes a lethal 212kb deletion with pleiotropic effects on two different genes, one resulting in fetal death in homozygous state (BMPER), and the other increasing growth (BBS9) in heterozygous state. We provide strong evidence for balancing selection resulting in an unexpected high frequency of a lethal allele in the population. This study shows that the large amounts of genomic and phenotypic data routinely generated in modern commercial breeding programs deliver a powerful tool to monitor and control lethal alleles much more efficiently. We report a large deletion within the BBS9 gene that induces late fetal mortality in homozygous affected animals in a commercial pig population. This late fetal mortality causes the fetus to become encapsulated and desiccated during the remaining time of the pregnancy, a process called mummification. The unusually high carrier frequency for this lethal deletion (10.8%) likely results from its strong positive association with growth rate in heterozygous individuals, an important selection trait in the pig breeding industry. Interestingly, we show that the positive effect on growth is induced by a heterozygous loss-of-function of the BBS9 gene, associated with obesity in human and mouse. However, late fetal mortality is induced by insufficient expression of the BMPER gene located directly downstream of the deletion which affects its regulatory elements required for gene expression. Together, our study shows an unique example of allelic pleiotropy in which one allele (deletion) is responsible for both increased growth and late fetal mortality by affecting two different genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn F. L. Derks
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
| | - Marcos S. Lopes
- Topigs Norsvin Research Center, Beuningen, the Netherlands
- Topigs Norsvin, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Mirte Bosse
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ole Madsen
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Bert Dibbits
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | | | - Martien A. M. Groenen
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Hendrik-Jan Megens
- Wageningen University & Research, Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen, The Netherlands
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de Simoni Gouveia JJ, Paiva SR, McManus CM, Caetano AR, Kijas JW, Facó O, Azevedo HC, de Araujo AM, de Souza CJH, Yamagishi MEB, Carneiro PLS, Braga Lôbo RN, de Oliveira SMP, da Silva MVG. Genome-wide search for signatures of selection in three major Brazilian locally adapted sheep breeds. Livest Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2017.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Zhang Z, Li W, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Teves ME, Liu H, Strauss JF, Pazour GJ, Foster JA, Hess RA, Zhang Z. Intraflagellar transport protein IFT20 is essential for male fertility and spermiogenesis in mice. Mol Biol Cell 2016; 27:mbc.E16-05-0318. [PMID: 27682589 PMCID: PMC5170554 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e16-05-0318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Revised: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a conserved mechanism thought to be essential for the assembly and maintenance of cilia and flagella. However, little is known about its role in mammalian sperm flagella formation. To fill this gap, we disrupted the Ift20 gene in male germ cells. Homozygous mutant mice were infertile with significantly reduced sperm counts and motility. In addition, abnormally shaped elongating spermatid heads and bulbous round spermatids were found in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Electron microscopy revealed increased cytoplasmic vesicles, fiber-like structures, abnormal accumulation of mitochondria and a decrease in mature lysosomes. The few developed sperm had disrupted axonemes and some retained cytoplasmic lobe components on the flagella. ODF2 and SPAG16L, two sperm flagella proteins failed to be incorporated into sperm tails of the mutant mice, and in the germ cells, both were assembled into complexes with lighter density in the absence of IFT20. Disrupting IFT20 did not significantly change expression levels of IFT88, a component of IFT-B complex, and IFT140, a component of IFT-A complex. Even though the expression level of an autophagy core protein that associates with IFT20, ATG16, was reduced in the testis of the Ift20 mutant mice, expression levels of other major autophagy markers, including LC3 and ubiquitin were not changed. Our studies suggest that IFT20 is essential for male fertility and spermiogenesis in mice, and its major function is to transport cargo proteins for sperm flagella formation. It also appears to be involved in removing excess cytoplasmic components.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengang Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430030 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298 Department of Dermatology, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430030
| | - Ling Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298 School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430065
| | - Maria E Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Hong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298 School of Public Health, Wuhan University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, 430065
| | - Jerome F Strauss
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298
| | - Gregory J Pazour
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605
| | - James A Foster
- Department of Biology, Randolph-Macon College, Ashland, VA 23005
| | - Rex A Hess
- Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, 2001 S. Lincoln, Urbana, IL 61802-6199
| | - Zhibing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, 23298
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Chen R, Yu S, Ren F, Lv XY, Pan CY. Detection of one large insertion/deletion (indel) and two novel SNPs within the <i>SPEF2</i> gene and their associations with male piglet reproduction traits. Arch Anim Breed 2016. [DOI: 10.5194/aab-59-275-2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract. The sperm flagella 2 (SPEF2) gene is essential for normal sperm tail development and male fertility. To fully characterize the structure of the mutation and to further study the function of the pig SPEF2 gene, we explored the insertion/deletion (indel) and novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the pig SPEF2 gene, and tested their associations with the testicular sizes in male Large White (LW) and Landrace (LD) pigs from China. Herein, a large insertion located at the SPEF2 gene in chromosome 16 was found, and two alleles of "I" (insertion) and "D" (deletion) were designated. Allele "D" was dominant in all analyzed pigs. Two novel SNPs (namely (NC_010458) g.19642G > A, resulting in AfaI aCRS PCR–PFLP, and g.19886C > G, resulting in EcoRI aCRS PCR–PFLP) were found in LW and LD pigs. Association testing revealed that g.19886C > G was significantly associated with the testis long circumference (TLC) in LW pigs (P < 0.05), suggesting that this SNP would be the DNA marker for the marker-assisted selection (MAS) in reproduction traits. This preliminary result indicates that the pig SPEF2 gene had significant effects on male reproduction traits. These findings could not only extend the spectrum of genetic variations in the pig SPEF2 gene but also contribute to implementing MAS in genetics and breeding in pigs.
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Zhao J, Yao J, Li F, Yang Z, Sun Z, Qu L, Wang K, Su Y, Zhang A, Montgomery SA, Geng T, Cui H. Identification of candidate genes for chicken early- and late-feathering. Poult Sci 2016; 95:1498-1503. [PMID: 27081197 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pew131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies suggest that prolactin receptor (Prlr) is a potential causative gene for chicken early- (EF) and late-feathering (LF) phenotypes. In this study, we evaluated candidate genes for this trait and determined the expression of 3 genes, including Prlr, sperm flagellar protein 2 (Spef2), and their fusion gene, in the skins of one-day-old EF and LF chicks using RT-qPCR. Data indicated that Prlr expression in the skin did not show significant difference between EF and LF chicks, suggesting Prlr may not be a suitable candidate gene. In contrast, Spef2 expression in the skin displayed a significant difference between EF and LF chicks (P < 0.01), suggesting that Spef2 may be a good candidate gene for chicken feathering. Moreover, dPrlr/dSpef2, the fusion gene, was also a good candidate gene as it was expressed only in LF chicks. However, the expression of the fusion gene was much lower than that of Prlr Additionally, using strand-specific primers, we found that the fusion gene was transcribed in 2 directions (one from dPrlr promoter, another from dSpef2 promoter), which could result in the formation of a double strand RNA. In conclusion, both Spef2 and the fusion gene are good candidate genes for chicken feathering, but Prlr is not. The research on the function and regulation of the candidate genes will help elucidate the molecular basis of the chicken feathering trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - J Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - F Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Z Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - Z Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China
| | - L Qu
- Institute of Poultry Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225125, China
| | - K Wang
- Institute of Poultry Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225125, China
| | - Y Su
- Institute of Poultry Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225125, China
| | - A Zhang
- Institute of Poultry Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225125, China
| | - S A Montgomery
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - T Geng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
| | - H Cui
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Epigenetics and Epigenomics, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China; Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for the Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225009, China.
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15
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16
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Identification of Reproduction-Related Gene Polymorphisms Using Whole Transcriptome Sequencing in the Large White Pig Population. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2015; 5:1351-60. [PMID: 25917919 PMCID: PMC4502369 DOI: 10.1534/g3.115.018382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Recent developments in high-throughput sequencing techniques have enabled large-scale analysis of genetic variations and gene expression in different tissues and species, but gene expression patterns and genetic variations in livestock are not well-characterized. In this study, we have used high-throughput transcriptomic sequencing of the Finnish Large White to identify gene expression patterns and coding polymorphisms within the breed in the testis and oviduct. The main objective of this study was to identify polymorphisms within genes that are highly and specifically expressed in male and/or female reproductive organs. The differential expression (DE) analysis underlined 1234 genes highly expressed in the testis and 1501 in the oviduct. Furthermore, we used a novel in-house R-package hoardeR for the identification of novel genes and their orthologs, which underlined 55 additional DE genes based on orthologs in the human, cow, and sheep. Identification of polymorphisms in the dataset resulted in a total of 29,973 variants, of which 10,704 were known coding variants. Fifty-seven nonsynonymous SNPs were present among genes with high expression in the testis and 67 were present in the oviduct, underlining possible influential genes for reproduction traits. Seven genes (PGR, FRAS1, TCF4, ADAT1, SPAG6, PIWIL2, and DNAH8) with polymorphisms were highlighted as reproduction-related based on their biological function. The expression and SNPs of these genes were confirmed using RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing. The identified nonsynonymous mutations within genes highly expressed in the testis or oviduct provide a list of candidate genes for reproduction traits within the pig population and enable identification of biomarkers for sow and boar fertility.
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17
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Polymorphism and DNA methylation in the promoter modulate KISS1 gene expression and are associated with litter size in goats. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 155:36-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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18
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Hedrick PW. Heterozygote Advantage: The Effect of Artificial Selection in Livestock and Pets. J Hered 2014; 106:141-54. [DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esu070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Huson HJ, Kim ES, Godfrey RW, Olson TA, McClure MC, Chase CC, Rizzi R, O'Brien AMP, Van Tassell CP, Garcia JF, Sonstegard TS. Genome-wide association study and ancestral origins of the slick-hair coat in tropically adapted cattle. Front Genet 2014; 5:101. [PMID: 24808908 PMCID: PMC4010767 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The slick hair coat (SLICK) is a dominantly inherited trait typically associated with tropically adapted cattle that are from Criollo descent through Spanish colonization of cattle into the New World. The trait is of interest relative to climate change, due to its association with improved thermo-tolerance and subsequent increased productivity. Previous studies localized the SLICK locus to a 4 cM region on chromosome (BTA) 20 and identified signatures of selection in this region derived from Senepol cattle. The current study compares three slick-haired Criollo-derived breeds including Senepol, Carora, and Romosinuano and three additional slick-haired cross-bred lineages to non-slick ancestral breeds. Genome-wide association (GWA), haplotype analysis, signatures of selection, runs of homozygosity (ROH), and identity by state (IBS) calculations were used to identify a 0.8 Mb (37.7-38.5 Mb) consensus region for the SLICK locus on BTA20 in which contains SKP2 and SPEF2 as possible candidate genes. Three specific haplotype patterns are identified in slick individuals, all with zero frequency in non-slick individuals. Admixture analysis identified common genetic patterns between the three slick breeds at the SLICK locus. Principal component analysis (PCA) and admixture results show Senepol and Romosinuano sharing a higher degree of genetic similarity to one another with a much lesser degree of similarity to Carora. Variation in GWA, haplotype analysis, and IBS calculations with accompanying population structure information supports potentially two mutations, one common to Senepol and Romosinuano and another in Carora, effecting genes contained within our refined location for the SLICK locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather J Huson
- Department of Animal Science, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA ; Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - Eui-Soo Kim
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Beltsville, MD, USA ; Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University Ames, IA, USA
| | - Robert W Godfrey
- Agricultural Experiment Station, University of the Virgin Islands St. Croix, Virgin Islands
| | - Timothy A Olson
- Department of Animal Science, University of Florida Gainsville, FL, USA
| | - Matthew C McClure
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Beltsville, MD, USA ; Irish Cattle Breeding Federation Cork, Ireland
| | - Chad C Chase
- Meat Animal Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Rita Rizzi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Milan University Milan, Italy
| | - Ana M P O'Brien
- Division of Livestock Sciences, BOKU University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Austria
| | - Curt P Van Tassell
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Beltsville, MD, USA
| | - José F Garcia
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária de Araçatuba, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista Brazil
| | - Tad S Sonstegard
- Bovine Functional Genomics Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Services Beltsville, MD, USA
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20
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Sironen A, Fischer D, Laiho A, Gyenesei A, Vilkki J. A recent L1 insertion withinSPEF2gene is associated with changes inPRLRexpression in sow reproductive organs. Anim Genet 2014; 45:500-7. [DOI: 10.1111/age.12153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/25/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A. Sironen
- Agrifood Research Finland; MTT; Biotechnology and Food Research, Genomics; FI-36100 Jokioinen Finland
| | - D. Fischer
- Agrifood Research Finland; MTT; Biotechnology and Food Research, Genomics; FI-36100 Jokioinen Finland
| | - A. Laiho
- The Finnish Microarray and Sequencing Centre; Turku Centre for Biotechnology; University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University; Tykistökatu 6 FI-20520 Turku Finland
| | - A. Gyenesei
- The Finnish Microarray and Sequencing Centre; Turku Centre for Biotechnology; University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University; Tykistökatu 6 FI-20520 Turku Finland
| | - J. Vilkki
- Agrifood Research Finland; MTT; Biotechnology and Food Research, Genomics; FI-36100 Jokioinen Finland
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21
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Kadri NK, Sahana G, Charlier C, Iso-Touru T, Guldbrandtsen B, Karim L, Nielsen US, Panitz F, Aamand GP, Schulman N, Georges M, Vilkki J, Lund MS, Druet T. A 660-Kb deletion with antagonistic effects on fertility and milk production segregates at high frequency in Nordic Red cattle: additional evidence for the common occurrence of balancing selection in livestock. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004049. [PMID: 24391517 PMCID: PMC3879169 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2013] [Accepted: 11/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In dairy cattle, the widespread use of artificial insemination has resulted in increased selection intensity, which has led to spectacular increase in productivity. However, cow fertility has concomitantly severely declined. It is generally assumed that this reduction is primarily due to the negative energy balance of high-producing cows at the peak of lactation. We herein describe the fine-mapping of a major fertility QTL in Nordic Red cattle, and identify a 660-kb deletion encompassing four genes as the causative variant. We show that the deletion is a recessive embryonically lethal mutation. This probably results from the loss of RNASEH2B, which is known to cause embryonic death in mice. Despite its dramatic effect on fertility, 13%, 23% and 32% of the animals carry the deletion in Danish, Swedish and Finnish Red Cattle, respectively. To explain this, we searched for favorable effects on other traits and found that the deletion has strong positive effects on milk yield. This study demonstrates that embryonic lethal mutations account for a non-negligible fraction of the decline in fertility of domestic cattle, and that associated positive effects on milk yield may account for part of the negative genetic correlation. Our study adds to the evidence that structural variants contribute to animal phenotypic variation, and that balancing selection might be more common in livestock species than previously appreciated. We report the identification of a large deletion encompassing four genes and the demonstration of its negative effect on fertility in Nordic Red dairy cattle. We show that this deletion is recessively lethal (homozygous embryos die) and therefore, when carrier cows are mated to carrier bulls, there is a high risk of embryonic mortality. As a result, chances of insemination failure are higher for such matings. Surprisingly, despite its negative effect, the deletion is frequent in Nordic Red cattle. We show that this high frequency may be a consequence of the fact that the deletion is associated with increased milk production and therefore selected for. Due to increased levels of inbreeding resulting from the widespread use of artificial insemination, such recessive lethal alleles may account for a non-negligible fraction of the reduction in fertility observed in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Kumar Kadri
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Goutam Sahana
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
- * E-mail: (GS); (TD)
| | - Carole Charlier
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (B34), Liège, Belgium
| | - Terhi Iso-Touru
- MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Bernt Guldbrandtsen
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Latifa Karim
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (B34), Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Frank Panitz
- Molecular Genetics and Systems Biology, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | | | - Nina Schulman
- MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Michel Georges
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (B34), Liège, Belgium
| | - Johanna Vilkki
- MTT Agrifood Research Finland, Biotechnology and Food Research, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Mogens Sandø Lund
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics, Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, Tjele, Denmark
| | - Tom Druet
- Unit of Animal Genomics, GIGA-R & Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (B34), Liège, Belgium
- * E-mail: (GS); (TD)
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