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.

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.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Bos taurus coreanae (Korean native cattle).

Korean native cattle is one of the famous native breeds in Korean. In the present work, we report the complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Korean native cattle for the first time. The total length of the mitogenome was 16,339 bp with the base composition of 33.4% for A, 27.2% for T, 26.0% for C, and 13.4% for G, and an A-T (60.6%)-rich feature was detected. It harbored 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes, 22 transfer RNA genes and 1 non-coding control region (D-loop region). The arrangement of all genes was identical to the typical mitochondrial genomes of cattle. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Korean native cattle would serve as an important data set of the germplasm resources for further study.

[Integration sites and their characteristic analysis of piggyBac transposon in cattle genome].

As a useful tool for genetic engineering, piggyBac (PB) transposons have been widely used in more than one species of transgenosis or generating mutation studies. At present, the studies about PB transposons in cattle were few. In order to get the PB transposon integration sites and summarize its characteristics in bovine genome, donor plasmid of PB[CMV-EGFP] and helper-dependent plasmid of pcDNA-PBase were constructed and transferred into bovine fibroblasts by Amaxa basic nucleofector kit for primary mammalian fibroblasts. Cell clones stably transfected were obtained after screening by G-418. Genomic DNA of transgenic cells was extracted and the integration sites of PB transposon were detected by genome walking technology. Eight integration sites were obtained in bovine genome, although only 5 sites were mapped on chromosomes 1, 2, 11, and X chromosome. We found that PB transposon was inserted into the "TTAA" location and integrated into the intergenic non-regulatory sites between two genes. Analysis of the composition of the five bases, which was close to the side of the PB integration sites "TTAA", showed that PB 5' tended to be inserted into region rich in GC (62.5%). From the study, we got that transposition occurred in cattle genome by PB transposons and the integration site information acquired from the research will provide theoretical references for bovine study by PB transposon.

Single nucleotide polymorphism of CACNA2D1 gene and its association with milk somatic cell score in cattle.

The objective of the present study was to identify polymorphisms of the CACNA2D1 gene, and to analyze associations between these polymorphisms and mastitis in several cattle breeds. Through PCR-RFLP methods and DNA sequencing, an allelic variant corresponding to the A→G mutations and Aspartic (Asp) to Glycine (Gly) amino acid replacement at positions 526745 in the exon 25 of bovine CACNA2D1 gene could be detected. Two alleles, A and G, and three genotypes, AA, AG and GG were defined. Genetic character in the studied populations indicated that the A526745G loci of CACNA2D1 gene was moderate polymorphism and fitted with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P > 0.05). The effects of CACNA2D1 polymorphisms on somatic cell score (SCS) were analyzed and significant association was found between A526745G and SCS. The mean of genotype GG was significantly lower than those of genotype AG and AA (P = 0.0469). Information provided in this research could be useful in further studies to determine the role of CACNA2D1 gene in the mastitis resistance.

Association of thyroglobulin gene variants with carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle.

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism and can affect homeostasis of fat deposition. The gene encoding thyroglobulin (TG), producing the precursor for thyroid hormones, has been proposed as a positional and functional candidate gene for a QTL with an effect on fat deposition. In the present study, we identified 6 novel SNPs at the 3' flanking region of the TG gene. The SNP marker association analysis indicated that the T354C, G392A, A430G and T433G SNP markers were significantly associated with marbling score (P < 0.05). Animals with the new homozygote genotype had higher marbling score than those with the other genotypes. Otherwise, the linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated that these four SNPs were completely linked (r (2) = 1). Results from this study suggest that TG gene-specific SNP may be a useful marker for meat quality traits in future marker assisted selection programs in beef cattle.

Association analysis of thyroglobulin gene variants with carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle.

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating the metabolism and can affect the homeostasis of fat deposition. The gene encoding thyroglobulin (TG), producing the precursor for thyroid hormones, has been proposed as a positional and functional candidate gene for a QTL with an effect on fat deposition. In the present study, we identified 6 novel SNPs at the 3' flanking region of the TG gene. The SNP marker association analysis indicated that the SNP markers G133C, G156A, C220T and A506C were significantly associated with marbling score (P<0.05, N=271). Animals with the new homozygote genotype had higher marbling scores than those with the other genotypes. Besides, the linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated that these 4 SNPs were completely linked (r2 = 1). Results of this study suggest that the TG-gene-specific SNP may be a useful marker for meat quality traits in future marker-assisted selection programmes in beef cattle.

[Genetic variation in RXRG gene and its relationship with twinning trait in cattle].

Retinoic X receptor-gamma (RXRG) gene was studied as a candidate gene for the twinning trait of bovine. A new SNP A1941G was detected by sequencing at 3'UTR. Different genotypes were determined in Luxi monotocous cows, Luxi twinning cows, Chinese Simmental cows, Angus cows and Simmental x Mongolia cows by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The value of polymorphism information content indicated that this was a moderate polymorphism in Luxi monotocous cows and Luxi twinning cows. The chi(2) test indicated that the polymorphic locus in Luxi twinning cows did not fit Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (Plt;0.05). The chi(2) test of associational analysis between genotypic distribution and twinning or monotocous trait in Luxi cows showed that the difference was very significant (Plt;0.01).