A 1.1 Mb duplication CNV on chromosome 17 contributes to skeletal muscle development in Boer goats.

The Boer goat is one of the top meat breeds in modern animal husbandry and has attracted widespread attention for its unique growth performance. However, the genetic basis of muscle development in the Boer goat remains obscure. In this study, we identified specific structural variants in the Boer goat based on genome-wide selection signals and analyzed the basis of the molecular heredity of related candidate genes in muscle development. A total of 9 959 autosomal copy number variations (CNVs) were identified through selection signal analysis in 127 goat genomes. Specifically, we confirmed that the highest signal CNV (HSV) was a chromosomal arrangement containing an approximately 1.11 Mb (CHIR17: 60062304-61171840 bp) duplicated fragment inserted in reverse orientation and a 5 362 bp deleted region (CHIR17:60145940-60151302 bp) with overlapping genes (e.g., ARHGAP10, NR3C2, EDNRA, PRMT9, and TMEM184C). The homozygous duplicated HSV genotype (+/+) was found in 96% of Boer goats but was not detected in Eurasian goats and was only detected in 4% of indigenous African goats. The expression network of three candidate genes ( ARHGAP10, NR3C2, and EDNRA) regulating dose transcription was constructed by RNA sequencing. Results indicated that these genes were involved in the proliferation and differentiation of skeletal muscle satellite cells (SMSCs) and their overexpression significantly increased the expression of SAA3. The HSV of the Boer goat contributed to superior skeletal muscle growth via the dose effects of overlapping genes.

Comparative analysis of the genetic diversity of the neutral microsatellite loci and second exon of the goat MHC-DQB1 gene.

This study compared and analyzed the genetic diversity and population structure of exon 2 of the DQB1 gene and 13 autosomal neutral microsatellite markers from 14 Chinese goat breeds to explore the potential evolutionary mechanism of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). A total of 287 haplotypes were constructed from MHC-DQB1 exon 2 from 14 populations, and 82 nucleotide polymorphic sites (SNPs, 31.78%) and 172 heterozygous individuals (79.12%) were identified. The FST values of the microsatellites and MHC-DQB ranged between 0.01831-0.26907 and 0.00892-0.38871, respectively. Furthermore, 14 goat populations showed rich genetic diversity in the microsatellite loci and MHC-DQB1 exon 2. However, the population structure and phylogenetic relationship represented by the two markers were different. Positive selection and Tajima's D test results showed the occurrence of a diversified selection mechanism, which was primarily based on a positive and balancing selection in goat DQB. This study also found that the DQB sequences of bovines exhibited trans-species polymorphism (TSP) among species and families. In brief, this study indicated that positive and balancing selection played a major role in maintaining the genetic diversity of DQB, and TSP of MHC in bovines was common, which enhanced the understanding of the MHC evolution.

Identification of differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs and messenger RNAs involved with muscle development in Dazu black goats through RNA sequencing.

This study aimed to explore the genetic basis of muscle development in goats. The transcriptome dataset for differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of goat muscle at different developmental stages were obtained using RNA-Seq. A total of 447,806,481 and 587,559,465 clean reads in the longissimus dorsi muscle of Dazu black goats between 75d embryonic stage and 1d after birth were generated through Illumina paired-end sequencing, and their mapping rates were 89.82 and 90.99%, respectively. Moreover, 4517 DEGs and 648 DELs were identified, and 4784 lncRNA-mRNA targeting relationships were predicted. Gene function annotation results showed that 4101 DEGs were significantly enriched to 1098 GO terms, and 2014 DEGs were significantly enriched to 40 KEGG pathways, including many GO terms and pathways related to muscle development, such as cell differentiation and Wnt signaling pathway. Then, 10 DELs and 20 DEGs were randomly selected for RT-qPCR verification, and the agreement rate between the verification and RNA-Seq results was 90%, indicating the high reliability of the RNA-Seq data analysis. In conclusion, this study obtained several mRNAs and lncRNAs related to the muscle development of Dazu black goats and identified several targeted regulatory pairs of lncRNA-mRNA. This study may serve as a reference to understand the genetic basis and molecular mechanism of muscle development in goats.

A nonsynonymous SNP within the AMH gene is associated with litter size in Dazu black goats.

AMH, KISS1R and GDF9 genes play a vital role in human and animal reproduction and might be used as the genetic markers for the reproduction traits selection. The aim of this study was to screen the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the AMH, KISS1R and GDF9 genes and to determine the correlations between these SNPs and the litter size in goats. Nine single SNPs within these genes were used for genotyping of the 190 Dazu black goat populations by SNaPshot technique. The polymorphisms of nine SNPs within these genes were detected in Dazu black goats. The significant correlation was observed between one SNP (g.89172108A > C) within the AMH gene and the litter size of second born in Dazu black goats (p < 0.05). The SNP was located in exon 4 (XM_018050765.1) of the AMH gene and was one nonsynonymous substitution, which resulted in a change of an amino acid from Glutamine to Proline (Gln38Pro). These results suggested that the nonsynonymous SNP g.89172108A > C of AMH gene could be used as a potential genetic marker for Marker-assisted selection (MAS) in goats breeding programs.

Three SNPs within exons of INHA and ACVR2B genes are significantly associated with litter size in Dazu black goats.

The aim of this study was to analyse the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms within INHA and ACVR2B and litter size in Dazu black goats. In total, twenty-two SNPs were genotyped in 190 individuals by SNaPshot and resequencing. The results showed that three SNPs (SNP_1, SNP_12 and SNP_13 in this study) were detected to have significant additive genetic effect on the recorded goat litter size (p < .05). The SNP_1 (NC_030809.1), a non-synonymous substitution of G for T at chr2-g. 28314990 in the exon 2 of INHA gene (NM_001285606.1), resulted in homozygote 2 (HOM2) contributed 0.25 and heterozygote (HET) contributed 0.12 larger litter than homozygote 1 (HOM1). Meanwhile, SNP_12 (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T) and SNP_13 (Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) (NC_030829.1) simultaneously mutated at the first and third position of a triplet AAA (lysine, K) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene (XM_018066623.1) had estimated genetic effects of HOM1 (0.00) and HOM2 (0.03) larger than HET (-0.12). In conclusion, one SNPs (chr2-g. 28314990 T > G) within the exon 2 of INHA and two SNPs (Chr22-g. 11721225 A > T and Chr22-g. 11721227 A > C) in the exon 4 of ACVR2B gene were highly recommended as candidate markers of litter size in Dazu black goats. A large-scale association study to assess the impact of these variants on litter size is still necessary.

Comparative and selection sweep analysis of CNV was associated to litter size in Dazu black goats.

This study aims to identify the relative Copy number variation (CNV) associated with the litter size of Dazu black goats based on the unpublished CNV analytical results of our previously published sequencing data, in which the litter-size groups were classified into extreme low- and high-yield groups. Firstly, to compare the existence of valuable CNV in Dazu black goats with different fertility levels with mixed pools. We obtained 4992 and 4888 CNVs from the HY and LY, which overlapping 1461 genes, and classified on the original CNV type. Three genes [LOC108633278, PPP1R12A, and YIPF4] were observed in the intersection between the HY deletion and the LY duplication groups. Secondly, on individuals level, we identified a novel candidate CNV (Chr1_50215501, FST = 0.148, VST = 0.347) from 214 autosomal credible CNVs to be significant with litter size in the Dazu black goat, which located in the CBLB gene. This finding indicates the CBLB gene may affect the litter size of the Dazu black goats through structural variations, and Chr1_50215501 can be an effective genetic marker for marker-assisted selection breeding, and this study was also helps understand the molecular mechanism related to the goat litter size.

SNP of AHSA2 gene in three cattle breeds using snapshot technology.

Droughtmaster is a tropical breed of beef cattle that can survive in hot climates and easily adapt to torrid environments. These traits are important in livestock breeding. In this study, we genotyped five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AHSA2 gene from 190 cattle belonging to three different breeds (Droughtmaster, Angus and Simmental) by using snapshot technology. This work aimed to identify the valuable molecular marker of heat resistance in cattle. Results showed that Droughtmaster exhibited higher expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content compared with the two other breeds. The AHSA2-1 locus deviated from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the Droughtmaster breed (P < 0.05). Two SNPs in Droughtmaster diverged significantly from Angus and Simmental. The SNPs were identified as AHSA2-3 and AHSA2-4, which were closely linked to the three breeds based on pair-wise FST. AHSA2-4 involved a missense mutation. In summary, the GG genotypes in AHSA2-3 and AHSA2-4 may be candidate genotypes associated with heat resistance traits and may serve as valuable genetic markers for breeding of heat-tolerant beef cattle in the future.

Evolutionary relationship and population structure of domestic Bovidae animals based on MHC-linked and neutral autosomal microsatellite markers.

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes are critical for disease resistance or susceptibility responsible for host-pathogen interactions determined mainly by extensive polymorphisms in the MHC genes. Here, we examined the diversity and phylogenetic pattern of MHC haplotypes reconstructed using three MHC-linked microsatellite markers in 55 populations of five Bovidae species and compared them with those based on neutral autosomal microsatellite markers (NAMs). Three-hundred-and-forty MHC haplotypes were identified in 1453 Bovidae individuals, suggesting significantly higher polymorphism and heterozygosity compared with those based on NAMs. The ambitious boundaries in population differentiation (phylogenetic network, pairwise FST and STRUCTURE analyses) within and between species assessed using the MHC haplotypes were different from those revealed by NAMs associated closely with speciation, geographical distribution, domestication and management histories. In addition, the mean FST was significantly correlated negatively with the number of observed alleles (NA), observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosity and polymorphism information content (PIC) (P < 0.05) in the MHC haplotype dataset while there was no correction of the mean FST estimates (P> 0.05) between the MHC haplotype and NAMs datasets. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a lower percentage of total variance (PTV) between species/groups based on the MHC-linked microsatellites than NAMs. Therefore, it was inferred that individuals within populations accumulated as many MHC variants as possible to increase their heterozygosity and thus the survival rate of their affiliated populations and species, which eventually reduced population differentiation and thereby complicated their classification and phylogenetic relationship inference. In summary, host-pathogen coevolution and heterozygote advantage, rather than demographic history, act as key driving forces shaping the MHC diversity within the populations and determining the interspecific MHC diversity.

Identification of a Goat Intersexuality-Associated Novel Variant Through Genome-Wide Resequencing and Hi-C.

Background: Polled intersex syndrome (PIS) leads to reproductive disorders in goats and exerts a heavy influence on goat breeding. Since 2001, the core variant of an 11.7 kb deletion at ~129 Mb on chromosome 1 (CHI1) has been widely used as a genetic diagnostic criterion. In 2020, a ~0.48 Mb insertion within the PIS deletion was identified by sequencing in XX intersex goats. However, the suitability of this variation for the diagnosis of intersex goats worldwide and its further molecular genetic mechanism need to be clarified. Results: The whole-genome selective sweep of intersex goats from China was performed with whole-genome next-generation sequencing technology for large sample populations and a case-control study on interbreeds. A series of candidate genes related to the goat intersexuality phenotype were found. We further confirmed that a ~0.48 Mb duplicated fragment (including ERG and KCNJ15) downstream of the ~20 Mb PIS region was reversely inserted into the PIS locus in intersex Chinese goats and was consistent with that in European Saanen and Valais black-necked goats. High-throughput chromosome conformation capture (Hi-C) technology was then used to compare the 3D structures of the PIS variant neighborhood in CHI1 between intersex and non-intersex goats. A newly found structure was validated as an intrachromosomal rearrangement. This inserted duplication changed the original spatial structure of goat CHI1 and caused the appearance of several specific loop structures in the adjacent ~20 kb downstream region of FOXL2. Conclusions: Results suggested that the novel complex PIS variant genome was sufficient as a broad-spectrum clinical diagnostic marker of XX intersexuality in goats from Europe and China. A series of private dense loop structures caused by segment insertion into the PIS deletion might affect the expression of FOXL2 or other neighboring novel candidate genes. However, these structures require further in-depth molecular biological experimental verification. In general, this study provided new insights for future research on the molecular genetic mechanism underlying female-to-male sex reversal in goats.

Genome-wide selection signatures analysis of litter size in Dazu black goats using single-nucleotide polymorphism.

Litter size is considered to be the most important index for estimating domestic animal productivity. The number of indigenous goats in China with higher litter sizes than those of commercial breeds in other countries may be helpful for accelerating genetic improvements in goat breeding. We performed a genome-wide selective sweep analysis of 31 Dazu black goats with extreme standard deviation in litter size within the third fetus to identify significant genomic regions and candidate genes through different analyses. The analysis identified a total of 33,917,703 variants, including 32,262,179 SNPs and 1,655,524 indels. In addition, two novel candidate genes (LRP1B and GLRB), which are related to litter size, were obtained with π, Tajima's D, πA/πB, and F ST at the individual level with a 95% threshold for each parameter. These two genes were annotated in five GO terms (localization, binding, macromolecular complex, membrane part, and membrane) and two pathways (long-term depression and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway). Regarding the result of linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis, in LRP1B and GRID2, the high-yield Dazu black goats exhibit significantly different LD patterns from low-yield goats. Litter size variability has low heritability and is related to multiple complex factors found in domestic animals. Obtaining a clear explanation and significant signal by genome-wide selective sweep analysis with a small sample size is difficult. However, we investigated some candidate genes, particularly LRP1B and GLRB, which may provide useful information for further research.

Kisspeptin recombinant oral vaccine: A master gene vaccine inhibiting the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs.

The KISS1 gene product, kisspeptin, stimulates gonadotrophic steroid hormone (GNRH) neuronal signaling through the G-protein coupled receptor, kiss1r. Disturbance of this signaling pathway causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism in mammals. As part of this cutting-edge research project, we analyzed the efficacy of an oral kisspeptin recombinant vaccine on the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs. Ten 56-day old ram lambs were randomly divided into treatment and control groups to receive the experimental recombinant vaccines, C500/pKS-asd or C500/pVAX-asd (aspartate-ß semialdehyde dehydrogenase), respectively. The vaccines were orally administered at day 0, 28 and 56 and blood samples were taken and scrotal circumference data recorded at 14-day intervals (days 0, 14, 28, 42, 56, 70, and 84). At the end of the experimental period, day 98, sexual behaviors were assessed, scrotal circumferences were measured, and blood samples were collected. Testicular samples were also collected after the animals were sacrificed. Anti-kisspeptin antibody and testosterone serum levels were measured by indirect ELISA. Results demonstrated that the levels of anti-kisspeptin antibodies were significantly higher in the treatment group compared to controls (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.001). However, serum testosterone levels were lower in the treatment group (P<0.01). Interestingly, vaccine administration contributed to a significant reduction (P<0.01) in sexual behavior propensity. These results suggest that the kisspeptin recombinant oral vaccine regulates and inhibits the reproductive physiology and behavior of ram lambs.

Genetic diversity of the Chinese goat in the littoral zone of the Yangtze River as assessed by microsatellite and mtDNA.

The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of goats in the Yangtze River region using microsatellite and mtDNA to better understand the current status of those goat genetic diversity and the effects of natural landscape in fashion of domestic animal genetic diversity. The genetic variability of 16 goat populations in the littoral zone of the Yangtze River was estimated using 21 autosomal microsatellites, which revealed high diversity and genetic population clustering with a dispersed geographical distribution. A phylogenetic analysis of the mitochondrial D-loop region (482 bp) was conducted in 494 goats from the Yangtze River region. In total, 117 SNPs were reconstructed, and 173 haplotypes were identified, 94.5% of which belonged to lineages A and B. Lineages C, D, and G had lower frequencies (5.2%), and lineage F haplotypes were undetected. Several high-frequency haplotypes were shared by different ecogeographically distributed populations, and the close phylogenetic relationships among certain low-frequency haplotypes indicated the historical exchange of genetic material among these populations. In particular, the lineage G haplotype suggests that some west Asian goat genetic material may have been transferred to China via Muslim migration.

Reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor gene vaccine in immunocastration of ram lambs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the reversibility and safety of KISS1 metastasis suppressor (KISS1) gene vaccine in immunocastration. METHODS: Six eight-week old ram lambs were randomly divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccine (1 mg/ram lamb) was injected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 of the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein before primary immunization and at weeks 2, 4, 6, 10, 14, 22, and 30 after primary immunization. All ram lambs were slaughtered at 38 weeks of age, and samples were collected. RESULTS: The specific anti-KISS1 antibody titers in vaccinated animals were significantly higher and the serum testosterone level was significantly lower than those in the control groups from week 4 to 14 after primary immunization (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed at weeks 22 and 30 after the primary immunization. Similar results were also found for scrotal circumference, testicular weight, length, breadth, and spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules in week 30 after primary immunization. KS (KISS1-hepatitis B surface antigen S) fusion fragment of KISS1 gene vaccine was not detected in host cell genomic DNA of 9 tissues of the vaccinated ram lambs by polymerase chain reaction. CONCLUSION: The effects of KISS1 gene vaccine in immunocastration were reversible and no integration events were recorded.

Investigation of individual heterozygosity correlated to growth traits in Tongshan Black-boned goat.

Ten single nucleotide polymorphisms were used for genotyping of 176 Tongshan Black-boned goats, which are Chinese indigenous goat colony for meat production. The average individual heterozygosity was 0.292. To assess the correlations between individual heterozygosity and growth in Tongshan Black-boned goat individuals, and the potential of using individual heterozygosity as an indicator of growth, the data of growth traits, including body weight, height at withers, body length, chest girth and cannon circumference, were collected. Significant correlations were observed between individual heterozygosity and body weight, height at withers, body length, heart girth, cannon circumference (P < 0.05). All the significant regression showed positive slope with R square values ranged from 0.0251 to 0.0368. These data suggests that individual heterozygosity is positively correlated with growth traits in Tongshan Black-boned goat individuals and associative overdominance may affect Tongshan Black-boned goat growth significantly. Therefore it is possible to use individual heterozygosity as an indicator of growth. Our results also provide a strong support to the overdominance hypothesis.