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Becker GM, Thorne JW, Burke JM, Lewis RM, Notter DR, Morgan JLM, Schauer CS, Stewart WC, Redden RR, Murdoch BM. Genetic diversity of United States Rambouillet, Katahdin and Dorper sheep. Genet Sel Evol 2024; 56:56. [PMID: 39080565 PMCID: PMC11290166 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-024-00905-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Managing genetic diversity is critically important for maintaining species fitness. Excessive homozygosity caused by the loss of genetic diversity can have detrimental effects on the reproduction and production performance of a breed. Analysis of genetic diversity can facilitate the identification of signatures of selection which may contribute to the specific characteristics regarding the health, production and physical appearance of a breed or population. In this study, breeds with well-characterized traits such as fine wool production (Rambouillet, N = 745), parasite resistance (Katahdin, N = 581) and environmental hardiness (Dorper, N = 265) were evaluated for inbreeding, effective population size (Ne), runs of homozygosity (ROH) and Wright's fixation index (FST) outlier approach to identify differential signatures of selection at 36,113 autosomal single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). RESULTS Katahdin sheep had the largest current Ne at the most recent generation estimated with both the GONe and NeEstimator software. The most highly conserved ROH Island was identified in Rambouillet with a signature of selection on chromosome 6 containing 202 SNPs called in an ROH in 50 to 94% of the individuals. This region contained the DCAF16, LCORL and NCAPG genes that have been previously reported to be under selection and have biological roles related to milk production and growth traits. The outlier regions identified through the FST comparisons of Katahdin with Rambouillet and Dorper contained genes with known roles in milk production and mastitis resistance or susceptibility, and the FST comparisons of Rambouillet with Katahdin and Dorper identified genes related to wool growth, suggesting these traits have been under natural or artificial selection pressure in these populations. Genes involved in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways were identified in all FST breed comparisons, which indicates the presence of allelic diversity between these breeds in genomic regions controlling cytokine signaling mechanisms. CONCLUSIONS In this paper, we describe signatures of selection within diverse and economically important U.S. sheep breeds. The genes contained within these signatures are proposed for further study to understand their relevance to biological traits and improve understanding of breed diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabrielle M Becker
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
| | - Jacob W Thorne
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M University, San Angelo, TX, USA
| | - Joan M Burke
- USDA, ARS, Dale Bumpers Small Farms Research Center, Booneville, AR, USA
| | - Ronald M Lewis
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - David R Notter
- School of Animal Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | | | - Christopher S Schauer
- Hettinger Research Extension Center, North Dakota State University, Hettinger, ND, USA
| | - Whit C Stewart
- Department of Animal Science, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, USA
| | - R R Redden
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Texas A&M University, San Angelo, TX, USA
| | - Brenda M Murdoch
- Department of Animal, Veterinary and Food Science, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA.
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Zhang F, Liu Q, Gong P, Wang Y, Shi C, Zhu L, Zhao J, Yao W, Luo J. Genome-wide association study provided insights into the polled phenotype and polled intersex syndrome (PIS) in goats. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:661. [PMID: 38956513 PMCID: PMC11218382 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10568-9] [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: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breeding polled goats is a welfare-friendly approach for horn removal in comparison to invasive methods. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the genetic basis underlying polledness in goats, we conducted whole-genome sequencing of 106 Xinong Saanen dairy goats, including 33 horned individuals, 70 polled individuals, and 3 polled intersexuality syndrome (PIS) individuals. METHODS The present study employed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) and linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis to precisely map the genetic locus underlying the polled phenotype in goats. RESULTS The analysis conducted in our study revealed a total of 320 genome-wide significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with the horned/polled phenotype in goats. These SNPs exhibited two distinct peaks on chromosome 1, spanning from 128,817,052 to 133,005,441 bp and from 150,336,143 to 150,808,639 bp. The present study identified three genome-wide significant SNPs, namely Chr1:129789816, Chr1:129791507, and Chr1:129791577, as potential markers of PIS-affected goats. The results of our LD analysis suggested a potential association between MRPS22 and infertile intersex individuals, as well as a potential association between ERG and the polled trait in goats. CONCLUSION We have successfully identified three marker SNPs closely linked to PIS, as well as several candidate genes associated with the polled trait in goats. These results may contribute to the development of SNP chips for early prediction of PIS in goats, thereby facilitating breeding programs aimed at producing fertile herds with polled traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Qingqing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Ping Gong
- Institute of Animal Husbandry Quality Standards, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumchi, 830000, P. R. China
| | - Yaling Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Chenbo Shi
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Lu Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Jianqing Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Weiwei Yao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China
| | - Jun Luo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100, P. R. China.
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3
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Zhang G, Chu M, Yang H, Li H, Shi J, Feng P, Wang S, Pan Z. Expression, Polymorphism, and Potential Functional Sites of the BMPR1A Gene in the Sheep Horn. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:376. [PMID: 38540434 PMCID: PMC10970624 DOI: 10.3390/genes15030376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Sheep horns are composed of bone and sheaths, and the BMPR1A gene is required for cartilage and osteogenic differentiation. Therefore, the BMPR1A gene may have a function related to the sheep horn, but its relationship with the sheep horn remains unclear. In this study, we first utilized RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data to investigate the expression of the BMPR1A gene in different tissues and breeds of sheep. Second, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data were used to explore the functional sites of the BMPR1A gene. Lastly, the allele-specific expression of the BMPR1A gene was explored. Our results indicate that BMPR1A gene expression is significantly higher in the normal horn groups than in the scurred groups. Importantly, this trend is consistent across several sheep breeds. Therefore, this finding suggests that the BMPR1A gene may be related to horn type. A total of 43 Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (F-statistics > 0.15) and 10 allele-specific expressions (ASEs) exhibited difference between the large and small horn populations. It is probable that these sites significantly impact the size of sheep horns. Compared to other polled species, we discovered ten amino acid sites that could influence horn presence. By combining RNA-seq and WGS functional loci results, we identified a functional site at position 40574836 on chromosome 25 that is both an SNP and exhibits allele-specific expression. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the BMPR1A gene is associated with horn type and identified some important functional sites which can be used as molecular markers in the breeding of sheep horns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China;
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Mingxing Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Hao Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Jianxin Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Pingjie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
| | - Shoufeng Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan 250022, China;
| | - Zhangyuan Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (M.C.); (H.Y.); (H.L.); (J.S.); (P.F.)
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Woolley SA, Salavati M, Clark EL. Recent advances in the genomic resources for sheep. Mamm Genome 2023; 34:545-558. [PMID: 37752302 PMCID: PMC10627984 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-023-10018-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Sheep (Ovis aries) provide a vital source of protein and fibre to human populations. In coming decades, as the pressures associated with rapidly changing climates increase, breeding sheep sustainably as well as producing enough protein to feed a growing human population will pose a considerable challenge for sheep production across the globe. High quality reference genomes and other genomic resources can help to meet these challenges by: (1) informing breeding programmes by adding a priori information about the genome, (2) providing tools such as pangenomes for characterising and conserving global genetic diversity, and (3) improving our understanding of fundamental biology using the power of genomic information to link cell, tissue and whole animal scale knowledge. In this review we describe recent advances in the genomic resources available for sheep, discuss how these might help to meet future challenges for sheep production, and provide some insight into what the future might hold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shernae A Woolley
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Mazdak Salavati
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
- Scotland's Rural College, Parkgate, Barony Campus, Dumfries, DG1 3NE, UK
| | - Emily L Clark
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK.
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Bionda A, Lopreiato V, Amato A, Cortellari M, Cavallo C, Chiofalo V, Crepaldi P, Liotta L. Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of the Comune di Sicilia Goat: Towards the Conservation of an Endangered Local Breed. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3207. [PMID: 37893931 PMCID: PMC10603724 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The Comune di Sicilia, a local goat breed from Sicily (Italy), is currently undergoing recognition as a distinct breed. This study aims to characterize the population both phenotypically and genomically to advance its recognition process. A total of 78 subjects from two locations were enrolled, and their phenotypic data, including qualitative traits and morphometric measurements of adult animals, were recorded and statistically analyzed. The goats were genotyped using the Illumina 50 k Goat SNPchip, comparing them with 473 goats from 15 Italian breeds. Population structure, phylogenetic relationships, admixture, and genomic inbreeding were analyzed. Additionally, subjects with different morphological traits were compared using FST and runs of homozygosity, leading to the identification of potential candidate genes associated with anotia and wattle presence in goats. The Comune di Sicilia breed exhibited distinctive genomic and phenotypic features, setting it apart from other breeds in the same region. However, moderate variability, possibly influenced by selection practices, was also observed. To ensure the breed's preservation and prevent excessive inbreeding, a comprehensive approach considering both morphology and genomic background is recommended. This study contributes valuable insights into the genetic peculiarities of the Comune di Sicilia goat, supporting its recognition as a unique and valuable breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Bionda
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali—Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Vincenzo Lopreiato
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (A.A.); (C.C.); (V.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Annalisa Amato
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (A.A.); (C.C.); (V.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Matteo Cortellari
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali—Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Carmelo Cavallo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (A.A.); (C.C.); (V.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Vincenzo Chiofalo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (A.A.); (C.C.); (V.C.); (L.L.)
| | - Paola Crepaldi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali—Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy; (A.B.); (P.C.)
| | - Luigi Liotta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Messina, Viale Palatucci 13, 98168 Messina, Italy; (V.L.); (A.A.); (C.C.); (V.C.); (L.L.)
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Zhang H, Yang P, Liu C, Ma Y, Han Y, Zeng Y, Huang Y, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, He X, E G. Novel Heredity Basis of the Four-Horn Phenotype in Sheep Using Genome-Wide Sequence Data. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3166. [PMID: 37893889 PMCID: PMC10603714 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203166] [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: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Horns are an important breeding trait for sheep. However, no widely recognized viewpoint on the regulatory genes and mechanisms of horns is available, and the genetic basis of the four-horn phenotype (FHP) is unclear. This work conducted a genome-wide association study with 100 sheep genomes from multiple breeds to investigate the genetic basis of the FHP. The results revealed three significant associations (corrected as p < 1.64 × 10-8) of the InDels (CHR2: g.133,742,709delA, g.133,743,215insC, and g.133,743,940delT) for FHP in the intergenic sequence (IGS) between the MTX2 and the LOC105609047 of CHR2. Moreover, 14 significant associations (corrected as p < 1.42 × 10-9) of SNPs with the FHP phenotype were identified in CHR2 and CHR16, including five (e.g., CHR16: g.40,351,378G > A and g.40,352,577G > A) located in the intron of the ADAMTS12 gene, eight (e.g., CHR2: g.133,727,513C > T and g.133,732,145T > G) in the IGS between MTX2 and LOC105609047, and only one (CHR2: g.133,930,761A > G) in the IGS between HOXD1 and MTX2. Obvious divergence was also observed in genotype patterns between the FHP and others (two horns and hornless) in the HOXD1 and ADAMTS12 gene regions. An extremely significant linkage also occurred between Loci I and Loci II within 100 individuals (LD = -156.02186, p < 0.00001). In summary, our study indicated that the genomic sequences from CHR2 and CHR16 contributed to the FHP in sheep, specifically the key candidate genes HOXD1 and ADAMTS12. These results improved our understanding of the Mendelian genetic basis of the FHP in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyuan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Pu Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Chengli Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yuehui Ma
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Yanguo Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yan Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongfu Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Yongju Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Zhongquan Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Xiaohong He
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100097, China
| | - Guangxin E
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
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Li H, Du X, Li X, Feng P, Chu M, Jin Y, Pan Z. Genetic diversity, tissue-specific expression, and functional analysis of the ATP7A gene in sheep. Front Genet 2023; 14:1239979. [PMID: 37799137 PMCID: PMC10547898 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1239979] [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: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In humans, variation of the ATP7A gene may cause cranial exostosis, which is similar to "human horn," but the function of the ATP7A gene in sheep is still unknown. Tissue expression patterns and potential functional loci analysis of the ATP7A gene could help understand its function in sheep horn. In this study, we first identified tissue, sex, breed, and species-specific expression of the ATP7A gene in sheep based on the RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) data. Second, the potential functional sites of the ATP7A gene were analyzed by using the whole genome sequencing (WGS) data of 99 sheep from 10 breeds. Last, the allele-specific expression of the ATP7A gene was explored. Our result showed the ATP7A gene has significantly higher expression in the big horn than in the small horn, and the ATP7A gene has high expression in the horn and skin, suggesting that this gene may be related to the horn. The PCA results show that the region around the ATP7A can distinguish horned and hornless groups to some extent, further indicating that the ATP7A may be related to horns. When compared with other species, we find seven ruminate specific amino acid sites of the ATP7A protein, which can be important to the ruminate horn. By analyzing WGS, we found 6 SNP sites with significant differences in frequency in horned and hornless populations, and most of these variants are present in the intron. But we still find some potential functional sites, including three missenses, three synonymous mutations, and four Indels. Finally, by combining the RNA-seq and WGS functional loci results, we find three mutations that showed allele-specific expression between big and small horns. This study shows that the ATP7A gene in sheep may be related to horn size, and several potential functional sites we identified here can be useful molecular markers for sheep horn breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Li
- Engineering Research Center of North-East Cold Region Beef Cattle Science & Technology Innovation, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyue Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pingjie Feng
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Mingxing Chu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Jin
- Engineering Research Center of North-East Cold Region Beef Cattle Science & Technology Innovation, Ministry of Education, College of Agriculture, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Zhangyuan Pan
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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Luan Y, Wu S, Wang M, Pu Y, Zhao Q, Ma Y, Jiang L, He X. Identification of Critical Genes for Ovine Horn Development Based on Transcriptome during the Embryonic Period. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040591. [PMID: 37106791 PMCID: PMC10136283 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Horns, also known as headgear, are a unique structure of ruminants. As ruminants are globally distributed, the study of horn formation is critical not only for increasing our understanding of natural and sexual selection but also for the breeding of polled sheep breeds to facilitate modern sheep farming. Despite this, a significant number of the underlying genetic pathways in sheep horn remain unclear. In this study, to clarify the gene expression profile of horn buds and investigate the key genes in horn bud formation, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) technology was utilized to investigate differential gene expression in the horn buds and adjacent forehead skin of Altay sheep fetuses. There were only 68 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified, consisting of 58 up-regulated genes and 10 down-regulated genes. RXFP2 was differentially up-regulated in the horn buds and had the highest significance (p-value = 7.42 × 10-14). In addition, 32 DEGs were horn-related genes identified in previous studies, such as RXFP2, FOXL2, SFRP4, SFRP2, KRT1, KRT10, WNT7B, and WNT3. Further, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched with regard to growth, development, and cell differentiation. Pathway analysis revealed that the Wnt signaling pathway may be responsible for horn development. Further, through combining the protein-protein interaction networks of the DEGs, it was found that the top five hub genes, namely, ACAN, SFRP2, SFRP4, WNT3, and WNT7B, were also associated with horn development. Our results suggest that only a few key genes, including RXFP2, are involved in bud formation. This study not only validates the expression of candidate genes identified at the transcriptome level in previous studies but also provides new possible marker genes for horn development, which may promote our understanding of the genetic mechanisms of horn formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Luan
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shangjie Wu
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Mingkun Wang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yabin Pu
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qianjun Zhao
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuehui Ma
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaohong He
- Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Resources Evaluation and Utilization, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
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Aldersey JE, Liu N, Tearle R, Low WY, Breen J, Williams JL, Bottema CDK. Topologically associating domains in the POLLED region are the same for Angus- and Brahman-specific Hi-C reads from F1 hybrid fetal tissue. Anim Genet 2023. [PMID: 36990727 DOI: 10.1111/age.13322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Horns, a form of headgear carried by Bovidae, have ethical and economic implications for ruminant production species such as cattle and goats. Hornless (polled) individuals are preferred. In cattle, four genetic variants (Celtic, Friesian, Mongolian and Guarani) are associated with the polled phenotype, which are clustered in a 300-kb region on chromosome 1. As the variants are intergenic, the functional effect is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if the POLLED variants affect chromatin structure or disrupt enhancers using publicly available data. Topologically associating domains (TADs) were analyzed using Angus- and Brahman-specific Hi-C reads from lung tissue of an Angus (Celtic allele) cross Brahman (horned) fetus. Predicted bovine enhancers and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing peaks for histone modifications associated with enhancers (H3K27ac and H3K4me1) were mapped to the POLLED region. TADs analyzed from Angus- and Brahman-specific Hi-C reads were the same, therefore, the Celtic variant does not appear to affect this level of chromatin structure. The Celtic variant is located in a different TAD from the Friesian, Mongolian, and Guarani variants. Predicted enhancers and histone modifications overlapped with the Guarani and Friesian variants but not the Celtic or Mongolian variants. This study provides insight into the mechanisms of the POLLED variants for disrupting horn development. These results should be validated using data produced from the horn bud region of horned and polled bovine fetuses.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Aldersey
- Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - N Liu
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - R Tearle
- Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
- Alkahest Inc, San Carlos, California, USA
| | - W Y Low
- Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
| | - J Breen
- South Australian Health & Medical Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Robinson Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Adelaide Medical School, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - J L Williams
- Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Technology, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Piacenza, Italy
| | - C D K Bottema
- Davies Livestock Research Centre, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy, South Australia, Australia
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Kalds P, Zhou S, Gao Y, Cai B, Huang S, Chen Y, Wang X. Genetics of the phenotypic evolution in sheep: a molecular look at diversity-driving genes. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:61. [PMID: 36085023 PMCID: PMC9463822 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-022-00753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND After domestication, the evolution of phenotypically-varied sheep breeds has generated rich biodiversity. This wide phenotypic variation arises as a result of hidden genomic changes that range from a single nucleotide to several thousands of nucleotides. Thus, it is of interest and significance to reveal and understand the genomic changes underlying the phenotypic variation of sheep breeds in order to drive selection towards economically important traits. REVIEW Various traits contribute to the emergence of variation in sheep phenotypic characteristics, including coat color, horns, tail, wool, ears, udder, vertebrae, among others. The genes that determine most of these phenotypic traits have been investigated, which has generated knowledge regarding the genetic determinism of several agriculturally-relevant traits in sheep. In this review, we discuss the genomic knowledge that has emerged in the past few decades regarding the phenotypic traits in sheep, and our ultimate aim is to encourage its practical application in sheep breeding. In addition, in order to expand the current understanding of the sheep genome, we shed light on research gaps that require further investigation. CONCLUSIONS Although significant research efforts have been conducted in the past few decades, several aspects of the sheep genome remain unexplored. For the full utilization of the current knowledge of the sheep genome, a wide practical application is still required in order to boost sheep productive performance and contribute to the generation of improved sheep breeds. The accumulated knowledge on the sheep genome will help advance and strengthen sheep breeding programs to face future challenges in the sector, such as climate change, global human population growth, and the increasing demand for products of animal origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kalds
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Environmental Agricultural Sciences, Arish University, El-Arish, 45511 Egypt
| | - Shiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yawei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Bei Cai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Shuhong Huang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Yulin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 China
- International Joint Agriculture Research Center for Animal Bio-Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Yangling, 712100 China
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