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Carvalho Filho I, Arikawa LM, Mota LFM, Campos GS, Fonseca LFS, Fernandes Júnior GA, Schenkel FS, Lourenco D, Silva DA, Teixeira CS, Silva TL, Albuquerque LG, Carvalheiro R. Genome-wide association study considering genotype-by-environment interaction for productive and reproductive traits using whole-genome sequencing in Nellore cattle. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:623. [PMID: 38902640 PMCID: PMC11188527 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10520-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genotype-by-environment interaction (GxE) in beef cattle can be investigated using reaction norm models to assess environmental sensitivity and, combined with genome-wide association studies (GWAS), to map genomic regions related to animal adaptation. Including genetic markers from whole-genome sequencing in reaction norm (RN) models allows us to identify high-resolution candidate genes across environmental gradients through GWAS. Hence, we performed a GWAS via the RN approach using whole-genome sequencing data, focusing on mapping candidate genes associated with the expression of reproductive and growth traits in Nellore cattle. For this purpose, we used phenotypic data for age at first calving (AFC), scrotal circumference (SC), post-weaning weight gain (PWG), and yearling weight (YW). A total of 20,000 males and 7,159 females genotyped with 770k were imputed to the whole sequence (29 M). After quality control and linkage disequilibrium (LD) pruning, there remained ∼ 2.41 M SNPs for SC, PWG, and YW and ∼ 5.06 M SNPs for AFC. RESULTS Significant SNPs were identified on Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25 and 27 for AFC and on BTA 4, 5 and 8 for SC. For growth traits, significant SNP markers were identified on BTA 3, 5 and 20 for YW and PWG. A total of 56 positional candidate genes were identified for AFC, 9 for SC, 3 for PWG, and 24 for YW. The significant SNPs detected for the reaction norm coefficients in Nellore cattle were found to be associated with growth, adaptative, and reproductive traits. These candidate genes are involved in biological mechanisms related to lipid metabolism, immune response, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and energy and phosphate metabolism. CONCLUSIONS GWAS results highlighted differences in the physiological processes linked to lipid metabolism, immune response, MAPK signaling pathway, and energy and phosphate metabolism, providing insights into how different environmental conditions interact with specific genes affecting animal adaptation, productivity, and reproductive performance. The shared genomic regions between the intercept and slope are directly implicated in the regulation of growth and reproductive traits in Nellore cattle raised under different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Carvalho Filho
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Leonardo M Arikawa
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Lucio F M Mota
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil.
| | - Gabriel S Campos
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Larissa F S Fonseca
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Gerardo A Fernandes Júnior
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Flavio S Schenkel
- Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal Biosciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G2W1, Canada
| | - Daniela Lourenco
- Department of Animal and Dairy Science, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Delvan A Silva
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Caio S Teixeira
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Thales L Silva
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Lucia G Albuquerque
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
- National Council for Science and Technological Development, Brasilia, DF, 71605-001, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal, SP, 14884-900, Brazil
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Jin Z, Gao H, Fu Y, Ren R, Deng X, Chen Y, Hou X, Wang Q, Song G, Fan N, Ma H, Yin Y, Xu K. Whole-Transcriptome Analysis Sheds Light on the Biological Contexts of Intramuscular Fat Deposition in Ningxiang Pigs. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:642. [PMID: 38790271 PMCID: PMC11121357 DOI: 10.3390/genes15050642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The quality of pork is significantly impacted by intramuscular fat (IMF). However, the regulatory mechanism of IMF depositions remains unclear. We performed whole-transcriptome sequencing of the longissimus dorsi muscle (IMF) from the high (5.1 ± 0.08) and low (2.9 ± 0.51) IMF groups (%) to elucidate potential mechanisms. In summary, 285 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 14 differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMIs), 83 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs), and 79 differentially expressed circRNAs (DECs) were identified. DEGs were widely associated with IMF deposition and liposome differentiation. Furthermore, competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) regulatory networks were constructed through co-differential expression analyses, which included circRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 47 DECs) and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA (containing 6 DEMIs, 6 DEGs, 36 DELs) regulatory networks. The circRNAs sus-TRPM7_0005, sus-MTUS1_0004, the lncRNAs SMSTRG.4269.1, and MSTRG.7983.2 regulate the expression of six lipid metabolism-related target genes, including PLCB1, BAD, and GADD45G, through the binding sites of 2-4068, miR-7134-3p, and miR-190a. For instance, MSTRG.4269.1 regulates its targets PLCB1 and BAD via miRNA 2_4068. Meanwhile, sus-TRPM7_0005 controls its target LRP5 through ssc-miR-7134-3P. These findings indicate molecular regulatory networks that could potentially be applied for the marker-assisted selection of IMF to enhance pork quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Jin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Hu Gao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Yawei Fu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
| | - Ruimin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Deng
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
| | - Yue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Xiaohong Hou
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Agricultural Biogenomics, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
| | - Qian Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Agricultural Biogenomics, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
| | - Gang Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Agricultural Biogenomics, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
| | - Ningyu Fan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
| | - Haiming Ma
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yulong Yin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; (Z.J.); (H.G.); (Y.F.); (Q.W.); (G.S.); (N.F.); (H.M.); (Y.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Kang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agroecological Processes in Subtropical Region, Institute of Subtropical Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changsha 410125, China; (R.R.); (X.D.); (Y.C.); (X.H.)
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of the Traditional Chinese Medicine Agricultural Biogenomics, Changsha Medical University, Changsha 410219, China
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Feng X, Tong L, Ma L, Mu T, Yu B, Ma R, Li J, Wang C, Zhang J, Gu Y. Mining key circRNA-associated-ceRNA networks for milk fat metabolism in cows with varying milk fat percentages. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:323. [PMID: 38561663 PMCID: PMC10983688 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10252-y] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cow milk fat is an essential indicator for evaluating and measuring milk quality and cow performance. Growing research has identified the molecular functions of circular RNAs (circRNAs) necessary for mammary gland development and lactation in mammals. METHOD The present study analyzed circRNA expression profiling data in mammary epithelial cells (MECs) from cows with highly variable milk fat percentage (MFP) using differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). RESULTS A total of 309 differentially expressed circRNAs (DE-circRNAs) were identified in the high and low MFP groups. WGCNA analysis revealed that the pink module was significantly associated with MFP (r = - 0.85, P = 0.007). Parental genes of circRNAs in this module were enriched mainly in lipid metabolism-related signaling pathways, such as focal adhesion, ECM-receptor interaction, adherens junction and AMPK. Finally, six DE-circRNAs were screened from the pink module: circ_0010571, circ_0007797, circ_0002746, circ_0003052, circ_0004319, and circ_0012840. Among them, circ_0002746, circ_0003052, circ_0004319, and circ_0012840 had circular structures and were highly expressed in mammary tissues. Subcellular localization revealed that these four DE-circRNAs may play a regulatory role in the mammary glands of dairy cows, mainly as competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs). Seven hub target genes (GNB1, GNG2, PLCB1, PLCG1, ATP6V0C, NDUFS4, and PIGH) were obtained by constructing the regulatory network of their ceRNAs and then analyzed by CytoHubba and MCODE plugins in Cytoscape. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes are crucial and most probable ceRNA regulators in milk fat metabolism. CONCLUSIONS Our study identified several vital circRNAs and ceRNAs affecting milk fat synthesis, providing new research ideas and a theoretical basis for cow lactation, milk quality, and breed improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lijia Tong
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Lina Ma
- NingXia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, 750002, Yinchuan, China
| | - Tong Mu
- School of Life Science, Yan'an University, 716000, Yanan, China
| | - Baojun Yu
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Ruoshuang Ma
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jiwei Li
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Chuanchuan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China.
| | - Yaling Gu
- Key Laboratory of Ruminant Molecular and Cellular Breeding, School of Agriculture, Ningxia University, 750021, Yinchuan, China
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Sarakul M, Elzo MA, Koonawootrittriron S, Suwanasopee T, Jattawa D, Laodim T. A comparison of five sets of overlapping and non-overlapping sliding windows for semen production traits in the Thai multibreed dairy population. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:428-436. [PMID: 37946424 PMCID: PMC10915195 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0230] [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: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study compared five distinct sets of biological pathways and associated genes related to semen volume (VOL), number of sperm (NS), and sperm motility (MOT) in the Thai multibreed dairy population. METHODS The phenotypic data included 13,533 VOL records, 12,773 NS records, and 12,660 MOT records from 131 bulls. The genotypic data consisted of 76,519 imputed and actual single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 72 animals. The SNP additive genetic variances for VOL, NS, and MOT were estimated for SNP windows of one SNP (SW1), ten SNP (SW10), 30 SNP (SW30), 50 SNP (SW50), and 100 SNP (SW100) using a single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction approach. The fixed effects in the model were contemporary group, ejaculate order, bull age, ambient temperature, and heterosis. The random effects accounted for animal additive genetic effects, permanent environment effects, and residual. The SNPs explaining at least 0.001% of the additive genetic variance in SW1, 0.01% in SW10, 0.03% in SW30, 0.05% in SW50, and 0.1% in SW100 were selected for gene identification through the NCBI database. The pathway analysis utilized genes associated with the identified SNP windows. RESULTS Comparison of overlapping and non-overlapping SNP windows revealed notable differences among the identified pathways and genes associated with the studied traits. Overlapping windows consistently yielded a larger number of shared biological pathways and genes than non-overlapping windows. In particular, overlapping SW30 and SW50 identified the largest number of shared pathways and genes in the Thai multibreed dairy population. CONCLUSION This study yielded valuable insights into the genetic architecture of VOL, NS, and MOT. It also highlighted the importance of assessing overlapping and non-overlapping SNP windows of various sizes for their effectiveness to identify shared pathways and genes influencing multiple traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattaneeya Sarakul
- Department of Animal Science, Nakhon Phanom University, Nakhon Phanom, 48000,
Thailand
| | - Mauricio A. Elzo
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0910,
USA
| | | | | | - Danai Jattawa
- Department of Animal Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok 10900,
Thailand
| | - Thawee Laodim
- Department of Animal Science, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom 73140,
Thailand
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Arikawa LM, Mota LFM, Schmidt PI, Frezarim GB, Fonseca LFS, Magalhães AFB, Silva DA, Carvalheiro R, Chardulo LAL, Albuquerque LGD. Genome-wide scans identify biological and metabolic pathways regulating carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle. Meat Sci 2024; 209:109402. [PMID: 38056170 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Genome association studies (GWAS) provides knowledge about the genetic architecture of beef-related traits that allow linking the target phenotype to genomic information aiding breeding decision. Thus, the present study aims to uncover the genetic mechanism involved in carcass (REA: rib eye area, BF: backfat thickness, and HCW: hot carcass weight) and meat quality traits (SF: shear-force, MARB: marbling score, and IMF: intramuscular fat content) in Nellore cattle. For this, 6910 young bulls with phenotypic information and 23,859 animals genotyped with 435 k markers were used to perform the weighted single-step GBLUP (WssGBLUP) approach, considering two iterations. The top 10 genomic regions explained 8.13, 11.81, and 9.58% of the additive genetic variance, harboring a total of 119, 143, and 95 positional candidate genes for REA, BF, and HCW, respectively. For meat quality traits, the top 10 windows explained a large proportion of the total genetic variance for SF (14.95%), MARB (17.56%), and IMF (21.41%) surrounding 92, 155, and 111 candidate genes, respectively. Relevant candidate genes (CAST, PLAG1, XKR4, PLAGL2, AQP3/AQP7, MYLK2, WWOX, CARTPT, and PLA2G16) are related to physiological aspects affecting growth, carcass, meat quality, feed intake, and reproductive traits by signaling pathways controlling muscle control, key signal metabolic molecules INS / IGF-1 pathway, lipid metabolism, and adipose tissue development. The GWAS results provided insights into the genetic control of the traits studied and the genes found are potential candidates to be used in the improvement of carcass and meat quality traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo Machestropa Arikawa
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil.
| | - Lucio Flavio Macedo Mota
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Iana Schmidt
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Bonfá Frezarim
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernanda Simielli Fonseca
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Fabrícia Braga Magalhães
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil; University of Jequitinhonha and Mucuri Valleys, Department of Animal Science, Rod. MG 367, Diamantina, MG 39100-000, Brazil
| | - Delvan Alves Silva
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil; University of Viçosa, Department of Animal Science, Av. PH Rolfs, Viçosa, MG 36570-900, Brazil
| | - Roberto Carvalheiro
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil
| | - Luis Artur Loyola Chardulo
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil; National Council for Science and Technological Development, Brasilia, DF 71605-001, Brazil
| | - Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Agricultural and Veterinarian Sciences, Department of Animal Science, Via de Acesso Prof. Paulo Donato Castelane, Jaboticabal, SP 14884-900, Brazil; National Council for Science and Technological Development, Brasilia, DF 71605-001, Brazil.
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Reding JJ, van der Westhuizen RR, Berry DP, van Marle-Köster E. Understanding the underlying genetic mechanisms for age at first calving, inter-calving period and scrotal circumference in Bonsmara cattle. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:480. [PMID: 37620802 PMCID: PMC10464233 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09518-8] [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: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproduction is a key feature of the sustainability of a species and thus represents an important component in livestock genetic improvement programs. Most reproductive traits are lowly heritable. In order to gain a better understanding of the underlying genetic basis of these traits, a genome-wide association was conducted for age at first calving (AFC), first inter-calving period (ICP) and scrotal circumference (SC) within the South African Bonsmara breed. Phenotypes and genotypes (120,692 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) post editing) were available on 7,128 South African Bonsmara cattle; the association analyses were undertaken using linear mixed models. RESULTS Genomic restricted maximum likelihood analysis of the 7,128 SA Bonsmara cattle yielded genomic heritability's of 0.183 (SE = 0.021) for AFC, 0.207 (SE = 0.022) for ICP and 0.209 (SE = 0.019) for SC. A total of 16, 23 and 51 suggestive (P ≤ 4 × 10-6) SNPs were associated with AFC, ICP and SC, while 11, 11 and 44 significant (P ≤ 4 × 10-7) SNPs were associated with AFC, ICP and SC respectively. A total of 11 quantitative trait loci (QTL) and 11 candidate genes were co-located with these associated SNPs for AFC, with 10 QTL harbouring 11 candidate genes for ICP and 41 QTL containing 40 candidate genes for SC. The QTL identified were close to genes previously associated with carcass, fertility, growth and milk-related traits. The biological pathways influenced by these genes include carbohydrate catabolic processes, cellular development, iron homeostasis, lipid metabolism and storage, immune response, ovarian follicle development and the regulation of DNA transcription and RNA translation. CONCLUSIONS This was the first attempt to study the underlying polymorphisms associated with reproduction in South African beef cattle. Genes previously reported in cattle breeds for numerous traits bar AFC, ICP or SC were detected in this study. Over 20 different genes have not been previously reported in beef cattle populations and may have been associated due to the unique genetic composite background of the SA Bonsmara breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Reding
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
| | | | - Donagh P Berry
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa
- Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, Moorepark, Fermoy, Cork, Ireland
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Ahmad SF, Singh A, Gangwar M, Kumar S, Dutt T, Kumar A. Haplotype-based association study of production and reproduction traits in multigenerational Vrindavani population. Gene 2023; 867:147365. [PMID: 36918047 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2023.147365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Haplotype-based association analysis promises to reveal important information regarding the effect of genetic variants on economic traits of interest. The present study aimed to evaluate the haplotype structure of Vrindavani cattle and explore the association of haplotypes with (re)production traits of economic interest. Genotyping array data of medium density (Bovine50KSNP BeadChip) on 96 randomly selected Vrindavani cows was used in the present study. Genotypes were called in GenomeStudio program while quality control was undertaken in PLINK using standard thresholds. The phenotypic traits used in the present study included age at first calving, dry days, lactation length, peak yield, total lactation milk yield, inter-calving period and service period. The haplotype structure of Vrindavani population was assessed, using a sliding window of 20 SNP with a shift of 5 SNPs at a time, in terms of the size of haplotype blocks regarding their length (in Kb) and frequency in chromosome-wise fashion. Haplotype blocks were assessed for possible association with important production and reproduction traits across three lactation cycles in Vrindavani cattle population. The first ten principal components were included in the model for haplotype-based association analysis to correct for stratification effects of assessed individuals. Multiple haplotypes were found to be associated with age at first calving, total lactation milk yield, peak yield, dry days, inter-calving period and service period. Various candidate genes were found to overlap haplotypes that were significantly associated with age at first calving (CDH18, MARCHF11, MYO10, FBXL7), total lactation milk yield (TGF, PDE1A, and COL8A1), peak yield (PPARGC1A, RCAN1, KCNE1, SMIM34 and MRPS6), dry days (CPNE4, ACAD11 and MRAS), inter-calving period (ABCG5, ABCG8 and COX7A2L) and service period (FOXL2 and PIK3CB). The putative candidate genes overlapping the significantly associated haplotypes revealed important pathways affecting the production and reproduction performance of animals. The identified genes and pathways may serve as good candidate markers to select animals for improved production and reproduction performance in future generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh Firdous Ahmad
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Akansha Singh
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Munish Gangwar
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Subodh Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Triveni Dutt
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India
| | - Amit Kumar
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly 243122, UP, India.
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Machado PC, Brito LF, Martins R, Pinto LFB, Silva MR, Pedrosa VB. Genome-Wide Association Analysis Reveals Novel Loci Related with Visual Score Traits in Nellore Cattle Raised in Pasture-Based Systems. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243526. [PMID: 36552446 PMCID: PMC9774243 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Body conformation traits assessed based on visual scores are widely used in Zebu cattle breeding programs. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions and biological pathways associated with body conformation (CONF), finishing precocity (PREC), and muscling (MUSC) in Nellore cattle. The measurements based on visual scores were collected in 20,807 animals raised in pasture-based systems in Brazil. In addition, 2775 animals were genotyped using a 35 K SNP chip, which contained 31,737 single nucleotide polymorphisms after quality control. Single-step GWAS was performed using the BLUPF90 software while candidate genes were identified based on the Ensembl Genes 69. PANTHER and REVIGO platforms were used to identify key biological pathways and STRING to create gene networks. Novel candidate genes were revealed associated with CONF, including ALDH9A1, RXRG, RAB2A, and CYP7A1, involved in lipid metabolism. The genes associated with PREC were ELOVL5, PID1, DNER, TRIP12, and PLCB4, which are related to the synthesis of long-chain fatty acids, lipid metabolism, and muscle differentiation. For MUSC, the most important genes associated with muscle development were SEMA6A, TIAM2, UNC5A, and UIMC1. The polymorphisms identified in this study can be incorporated in commercial genotyping panels to improve the accuracy of genomic evaluations for visual scores in beef cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela C. Machado
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Luiz F. Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Rafaela Martins
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
| | - Luis Fernando B. Pinto
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Bahia, Av. Adhemar de Barros 500, Ondina, Salvador 40170-110, BA, Brazil
| | - Marcio R. Silva
- Melhore Animal and Katayama Agropecuaria Lda, Guararapes 16700-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Victor B. Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa 84030-900, PR, Brazil
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
- Correspondence:
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Exploring and Identifying Candidate Genes and Genomic Regions Related to Economically Important Traits in Hanwoo Cattle. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2022; 44:6075-6092. [PMID: 36547075 PMCID: PMC9777506 DOI: 10.3390/cimb44120414] [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: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the current review was to explore and summarize different studies concerning the detection and characterization of candidate genes and genomic regions associated with economically important traits in Hanwoo beef cattle. Hanwoo cattle, the indigenous premium beef cattle of Korea, were introduced for their marbled fat, tenderness, characteristic flavor, and juiciness. To date, there has been a strong emphasis on the genetic improvement of meat quality and yields, such as backfat thickness (BFT), marbling score (MS), carcass weight (CW), eye muscle area (EMA), and yearling weight (YW), as major selection criteria in Hanwoo breeding programs. Hence, an understanding of the genetics controlling these traits along with precise knowledge of the biological mechanisms underlying the traits would increase the ability of the industry to improve cattle to better meet consumer demands. With the development of high-throughput genotyping, genomewide association studies (GWAS) have allowed the detection of chromosomal regions and candidate genes linked to phenotypes of interest. This is an effective and useful tool for accelerating the efficiency of animal breeding and selection. The GWAS results obtained from the literature review showed that most positional genes associated with carcass and growth traits in Hanwoo are located on chromosomes 6 and 14, among which LCORL, NCAPG, PPARGC1A, ABCG2, FAM110B, FABP4, DGAT1, PLAG1, and TOX are well known. In conclusion, this review study attempted to provide comprehensive information on the identified candidate genes associated with the studied traits and genes enriched in the functional terms and pathways that could serve as a valuable resource for future research in Hanwoo breeding programs.
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Zhuang Z, Wu J, Xu C, Ruan D, Qiu Y, Zhou S, Ding R, Quan J, Yang M, Zheng E, Wu Z, Yang J. The Genetic Architecture of Meat Quality Traits in a Crossbred Commercial Pig Population. Foods 2022; 11:foods11193143. [PMID: 36230219 PMCID: PMC9563986 DOI: 10.3390/foods11193143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Meat quality is of importance in consumer acceptance and purchasing tendency of pork. However, the genetic architecture of pork meat quality traits remains elusive. Herein, we conducted genome-wide association studies to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes affecting meat pH and meat color (L*, lightness; a*, redness; b*, yellowness) in 1518 three-way crossbred pigs. All individuals were genotyped using the GeneSeek Porcine 50K BeadChip. In sum, 30 SNPs and 20 genes are found to be associated with eight meat quality traits. Notably, we detect one significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) on SSC15 with a 143 kb interval for meat pH (pH_12h), together with the most promising candidate TNS1. Interestingly, two newly identified SNPs located in the TTLL4 gene demonstrate the highest phenotypic variance of pH_12h in this QTL, at 2.67%. The identified SNPs are useful for the genetic improvement of meat quality traits in pigs by assigning higher weights to associated SNPs in genomic selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanwei Zhuang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jie Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Cineng Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Donglin Ruan
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yibin Qiu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Shenping Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Rongrong Ding
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Zhongxin Breeding Technology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 511466, China
| | - Jianping Quan
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Ming Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China
| | - Enqin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Yunfu Subcenter of Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Yunfu 527400, China
| | - Jie Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
- Correspondence:
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11
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Use of a graph neural network to the weighted gene co-expression network analysis of Korean native cattle. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9854. [PMID: 35701465 PMCID: PMC9197844 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13796-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In the general framework of the weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), a hierarchical clustering algorithm is commonly used to module definition. However, hierarchical clustering depends strongly on the topological overlap measure. In other words, this algorithm may assign two genes with low topological overlap to different modules even though their expression patterns are similar. Here, a novel gene module clustering algorithm for WGCNA is proposed. We develop a gene module clustering network (gmcNet), which simultaneously addresses single-level expression and topological overlap measure. The proposed gmcNet includes a “co-expression pattern recognizer” (CEPR) and “module classifier”. The CEPR incorporates expression features of single genes into the topological features of co-expressed ones. Given this CEPR-embedded feature, the module classifier computes module assignment probabilities. We validated gmcNet performance using 4,976 genes from 20 native Korean cattle. We observed that the CEPR generates more robust features than single-level expression or topological overlap measure. Given the CEPR-embedded feature, gmcNet achieved the best performance in terms of modularity (0.261) and the differentially expressed signal (27.739) compared with other clustering methods tested. Furthermore, gmcNet detected some interesting biological functionalities for carcass weight, backfat thickness, intramuscular fat, and beef tenderness of Korean native cattle. Therefore, gmcNet is a useful framework for WGCNA module clustering.
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Mancin E, Tuliozi B, Pegolo S, Sartori C, Mantovani R. Genome Wide Association Study of Beef Traits in Local Alpine Breed Reveals the Diversity of the Pathways Involved and the Role of Time Stratification. Front Genet 2022; 12:746665. [PMID: 35058966 PMCID: PMC8764395 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.746665] [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: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Knowledge of the genetic architecture of key growth and beef traits in livestock species has greatly improved worldwide thanks to genome-wide association studies (GWAS), which allow to link target phenotypes to Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) across the genome. Local dual-purpose breeds have rarely been the focus of such studies; recently, however, their value as a possible alternative to intensively farmed breeds has become clear, especially for their greater adaptability to environmental change and potential for survival in less productive areas. We performed single-step GWAS and post-GWAS analysis for body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), carcass fleshiness (CF) and dressing percentage (DP) in 1,690 individuals of local alpine cattle breed, Rendena. This breed is typical of alpine pastures, with a marked dual-purpose attitude and good genetic diversity. Moreover, we considered two of the target phenotypes (BW and ADG) at different times in the individuals' life, a potentially important aspect in the study of the traits' genetic architecture. We identified 8 significant and 47 suggestively associated SNPs, located in 14 autosomal chromosomes (BTA). Among the strongest signals, 3 significant and 16 suggestive SNPs were associated with ADG and were located on BTA10 (50-60 Mb), while the hotspot associated with CF and DP was on BTA18 (55-62 MB). Among the significant SNPs some were mapped within genes, such as SLC12A1, CGNL1, PRTG (ADG), LOC513941 (CF), NLRP2 (CF and DP), CDC155 (DP). Pathway analysis showed great diversity in the biological pathways linked to the different traits; several were associated with neurogenesis and synaptic transmission, but actin-related and transmembrane transport pathways were also represented. Time-stratification highlighted how the genetic architectures of the same traits were markedly different between different ages. The results from our GWAS of beef traits in Rendena led to the detection of a variety of genes both well-known and novel. We argue that our results show that expanding genomic research to local breeds can reveal hitherto undetected genetic architectures in livestock worldwide. This could greatly help efforts to map genomic complexity of the traits of interest and to make appropriate breeding decisions.
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Naserkheil M, Mehrban H, Lee D, Park MN. Genome-wide Association Study for Carcass Primal Cut Yields Using Single-step Bayesian Approach in Hanwoo Cattle. Front Genet 2021; 12:752424. [PMID: 34899840 PMCID: PMC8662546 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.752424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of meat and carcass quality is growing in beef cattle production to meet both producer and consumer demands. Primal cut yields, which reflect the body compositions of carcass, could determine the carcass grade and, consequently, command premium prices. Despite its importance, there have been few genome-wide association studies on these traits. This study aimed to identify genomic regions and putative candidate genes related to 10 primal cut traits, including tenderloin, sirloin, striploin, chuck, brisket, top round, bottom round, shank, flank, and rib in Hanwoo cattle using a single-step Bayesian regression (ssBR) approach. After genomic data quality control, 43,987 SNPs from 3,745 genotyped animals were available, of which 3,467 had phenotypic records for the analyzed traits. A total of 16 significant genomic regions (1-Mb window) were identified, of which five large-effect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) located on chromosomes 6 at 38–39 Mb, 11 at 21–22 Mb, 14 at 6–7 Mb and 26–27 Mb, and 19 at 26–27 Mb were associated with more than one trait, while the remaining 11 QTLs were trait-specific. These significant regions were harbored by 154 genes, among which TOX, FAM184B, SPP1, IBSP, PKD2, SDCBP, PIGY, LCORL, NCAPG, and ABCG2 were noteworthy. Enrichment analysis revealed biological processes and functional terms involved in growth and lipid metabolism, such as growth (GO:0040007), muscle structure development (GO:0061061), skeletal system development (GO:0001501), animal organ development (GO:0048513), lipid metabolic process (GO:0006629), response to lipid (GO:0033993), metabolic pathways (bta01100), focal adhesion (bta04510), ECM–receptor interaction (bta04512), fat digestion and absorption (bta04975), and Rap1 signaling pathway (bta04015) being the most significant for the carcass primal cut traits. Thus, identification of quantitative trait loci regions and plausible candidate genes will aid in a better understanding of the genetic and biological mechanisms regulating carcass primal cut yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Naserkheil
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan-si, South Korea
| | - Hossein Mehrban
- Department of Animal Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Deukmin Lee
- Department of Animal Life and Environment Sciences, Hankyong National University, Anseong-si, South Korea
| | - Mi Na Park
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Division, National Institute of Animal Science, Cheonan-si, South Korea
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Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Candidate Genes Associated with Feet and Leg Conformation Traits in Chinese Holstein Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11082259. [PMID: 34438715 PMCID: PMC8388412 DOI: 10.3390/ani11082259] [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: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 07/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Feet and leg problems are among the major reasons for dairy cows leaving the herd, as well as having direct association with production and reproduction efficiency, health (e.g., claw disorders and lameness) and welfare. Hence, understanding the genetic architecture underlying feet and conformation traits in dairy cattle offers new opportunities toward the genetic improvement and long-term selection. Through a genome-wide association study on Chinese Holstein cattle, we identified several candidate genes associated with feet and leg conformation traits. These results could provide useful information about the molecular breeding basis of feet and leg traits, thus improving the longevity and productivity of dairy cattle. Abstract Feet and leg conformation traits are considered one of the most important economical traits in dairy cattle and have a great impact on the profitability of milk production. Therefore, identifying the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), genes and pathways analysis associated with these traits might contribute to the genomic selection and long-term plan selection for dairy cattle. We conducted genome-wide association studies (GWASs) using the fixed and random model circulating probability unification (FarmCPU) method to identify SNPs associated with bone quality, heel depth, rear leg side view and rear leg rear view of Chinese Holstein cows. Phenotypic measurements were collected from 1000 individuals of Chinese Holstein cattle and the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler Bovine 100 K SNP chip was utilized for individual genotyping. After quality control, 984 individual cows and 84,906 SNPs remained for GWAS work; as a result, we identified 20 significant SNPs after Bonferroni correction. Several candidate genes were identified within distances of 200 kb upstream or downstream to the significant SNPs, including ADIPOR2, INPP4A, DNMT3A, ALDH1A2, PCDH7, XKR4 and CADPS. Further bioinformatics analyses showed 34 gene ontology terms and two signaling pathways were significantly enriched (p ≤ 0.05). Many terms and pathways are related to biological quality, metabolism and development processes; these identified SNPs and genes could provide useful information about the genetic architecture of feet and leg traits, thus improving the longevity and productivity of Chinese Holstein dairy cattle.
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