Bovine TMEM95 gene: Polymorphisms detecting in five Chinese indigenous cattle breeds and their association with growth traits

BACKGROUND: Transmembrane protein 95 (TMEM95) plays a role in male fertility. Previous studies showed that genes with a significant impact on reproductive traits can also affect the growth traits of livestock. Thus, we speculated that the genetic variation of TMEM95 gene may have effects on growth traits of cattle. RESULTS: Two SNPs were genotyped. The rs136174626 and rs41904693 were in the intron 4 and 30 -untranslated region, respectively. The linkage disequilibrium analysis illustrated that these two loci were not linked. The rs136174626 was associated with six growth traits of Nanyang cattle, four traits of Luxi cattle, and three traits of Ji'an cattle. For rs41904693 locus, the GG individuals had greater body height and abdominal girth in Ji' an cattle than TT and TG individuals. In Jinnan cattle, GG and TT individuals had greater body height, height at hip cross, body length, and heart girth than TG individuals. The potential splice site prediction results suggest that the rs136174626 may influence the splicing efficiency of TMEM95, and the miRNA binding site prediction results showed that the rs41904693 may influence the expression of TMEM95 by affecting the binding efficiency of Bta-miR-1584 and TMEM95 30 -UTR. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the study suggested that the two SNPs in TMEM95 could be a reliable basis for molecular breeding in cattle.

Estimate of the Association of IGF-I and IGFALS Genes with Growth Traits in Hamdani Sheep

Abstract IGF-I and IGFALS play a vital stimulator role in skeletal growth, cell differentiation, metabolism, and other physiological processes. A total of 65 (male and female) animals were used in the study. Animals were measured for growth traits at birth weight, weaning weight, and weights at 6 months. The average daily gain (ADG) was calculated from birth to weaning (ADG1) and from birth to 6th month (ADG2). PCR-RFLP analysis was used to detect IGF-I polymorphism at the 5' regulatory region and IGFALS at Exon 1. Three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were observed for IGF-I/BfoI locus with allele and genotype frequency 0.79(A) and 0.21(B); 0.71(AA), 0.15(AB) and 0.14(BB). Also, three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were found for IGFALS/HinfI site with allele and genotype frequency as 0.22(A) and 0.78(B); 0.11(AA), 0.23(AB) and 0.66(BB). The genes were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p>0.05). Association analysis suggested that IGF-I and IGFALS significantly affected the growth traits (P<0.05). In terms of birth weight, The AA genotypes of IGF-I were higher than AB and BB. The AB genotype in terms of IGF-I had higher ADG2 compared with other genotypes. The AA genotype of the IGFALS gene was higher in terms of birth weight than other genotypes. In addition, the BB genotype was higher ADG1 than AA and BB. It is suggested that polymorphism of the IGF-I and IGFALS genes may be a potential molecular marker for growth traits in Hamdani sheep.

Correlation between gene expression profiles in muscle and live weight in dzhalginsky merino sheep / Correlación entre los perfiles de expresión génica en músculo y peso vivo de ovejas Dzhalginsky Merino / Correlação entre perfis de expressão gênica no músculo e peso vivo de ovinos Dzhalginsky Merino

Summary Background: marker assisted selection methods of sheep require the identification of genes that positively and negatively affect meat quality. Genes with high expression levels could have the greatest impact on growth and structure of muscle fibers. Objective: this study evaluated the expression of genes in the loin muscle of Dzhalginsky Merino sheep. Methods: reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to investigate the expression of 48 genes in the loin muscle of Dzhalginsky Merino sheep bred in Russia. Results: genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFA, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP,MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR, OXTR, BEGAIN, SLC2A3, and SS18L2 showed the highest expression. The group of genes with a medium level of expression included ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2, GH, DGAT1, and IGF1. Low levels of expression were identified for genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, MSTN, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4, and SERT. Trace expression was detected in genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 and BMP15. Significant correlation between expression level and live weight was observed for most of the investigated genes. Conclusion: our results demonstrate the feasibility of using these newly identified candidate genes as genetic markers in sheep.

Resumen Antecedentes: los métodos de selección asistida de ovejas a través de marcadores requieren la identificación de los genes que afectan positiva o negativamente la calidad de la carne. Los genes con niveles más altos de expresión podrían tener mayor impacto en el crecimiento y estructura de las fibras musculares. Objetivo: evaluar la expresión de los genes en el músculo del lomo de carneros de la raza Dzhalginsky Merino. Métodos: se utilizó RT-PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real (RT-qPCR) para investigar la expresión de 48 genes en el músculo del lomo de ovejos raza Merino Dzhalginsky criados en Rusia. Resultados: los genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFa, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP, MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR, OXTR, BEGAIN,SLC2A3 y SS18L2 mostraron la más alta expresión. El grupo de genes con un nivel medio de expresión incluyó ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2, GH, DGAT1 y IGF1. Se identificaron bajos niveles de expresión en los genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, NTCR, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4 y SERT. Expresión traza fue detectada en los genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 y BMP15. Para la mayoría de los genes investigados hubo una correlación significativa entre el nivel de expresión y el peso vivo de los carneros. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran la factibilidad del uso de estos genes candidatos identificados recientemente como marcadores genéticos en ovejas.

Resumo Antecedentes: métodos que utilizam marcadores de seleção assistida em ovelhas exigem a identificação de novos genes que afetam a qualidade da carne. Genes com maiores níveis de expressão podem ter maior impacto sobre o crescimento e a estrutura das fibras músculares. Objetivo: avaliar a expressão de genes no músculo lombar de ovinos da raça Merino Dzhalginsky. Métodos: foi utilizada a reação em cadeia da polimerase-transcriptase reversa e em tempo real (RT-qPCR) para investigar a expressão de 48 genes em músculo do lombo da raça de ovinos Merino Dzhalginsky, que foram criados na Rússia. Resultados: os genes GAPDH, PYGM, CAST, ATP5G1, CAPN3, SOD1, VEGFA, CALM2, YWHAZ, ASIP, MYOD1, CAPN1, GHR,OXTR, BEGAIN, SLC2A3 e SS18L2 apresentaram a maior expressão. O grupo de genes com um nível médio de expressão incluíram ATOX1, BAMBI, TLR6, IGF2, FOS, FST, GGTA2P, C-MET, FGF5, ACVR2A, CAPN2,GH, DGAT1 e IGF1. Foram identificados baixos níveis de expressão para os genes ABCG2, SPP2, PYGL, PPARG2, TGFB1, CXCR4, MSTN, CYP2J, LEPR, CDKN1A, IGFBP4 e SERT. Foi detectado rastreamento de expressão nos genes SST, TSHR, GDF9, FGF7 e BMP15. Para a maioria dos genes investigados, houve uma correlação significativa entre o nível de expressão e o peso vivo dos carneiros Dzhalginsky Merino. Conclusão: os resultados demonstram a viabilidade do uso desses genes candidatos recentemente identificados como marcadores genéticos no desenvolvimento de novas raças de ovinos.

Heritability estimates for body weight and height at withers in Brazilian army horses / Estimativas de herdabilidade para peso corporal e altura de cernelha de equinos do Exército Brasileiro

The aim of this study was to estimate the heritability for weight and height at withers of 260-780 days of age No Defined Breed (NDB) horses, at intervals of 40 days, which belong to the Brazilian Army cavalry. Thus, the model considered the direct genetic effects as random ones, as fixed, the effects of sex and year of birth and the linear effects of height at withers and age, as covariates for the analysis of body weight, whereas for the analysis of height, the linear effect of weight was included as a covariate. For the complete data, the estimated heritability coefficients were 0.40±0.034 and 0.70±0.019 for weight and height at withers, respectively, indicating that individual selection for these traits may be effective. On the other hand, for the data subdivided into age classes, the heritability coefficients ranged between 0.04 and 0.77 for weight, with the highest estimation for the class between 440 and 480 days of age, which indicates a higher possibility of weight selection during this period. For height, the heritability values ranged between 0.08 and 0.98, being the highest estimate found between 300 and 340 days of age, corroborating, thus, to the selection of the trait at this age.

Objetivou-se estimar a herdabilidade para peso e altura de cernelha de equinos sem raça definida (SRD), pertencentes à cavalaria do Exército brasileiro, com idades entre 260 e 780 dias, em intervalos de 40 dias. Assim, o modelo utilizado considerou os efeitos genéticos aditivos diretos como aleatórios, os efeitos de sexo e ano de nascimento como fixos e os efeitos lineares de altura de cernelha e idade do animal, como covariáveis para análise do peso corporal, sendo que, para análise da altura, o efeito linear do peso foi incluído como covariável. Para o arquivo completo, os coeficientes de herdabilidade estimados foram 0,40±0,034 e 0,70±0,019, para peso e altura de cernelha, respectivamente, indicando que a seleção individual para essas características pode ser eficiente. Entretanto, para os arquivos subdivididos em classes de idade, os coeficientes de herdabilidade variam entre 0,04 e 0,77 para peso, sendo a maior estimativa obtida para a classe entre 440 e 480 dias de idade, o que indica maior possibilidade de seleção para peso nesse período. Para altura, as herdabilidades oscilaram entre 0,08 e 0,98, sendo a maior estimativa encontrada entre 300 e 340 dias de idade, corroborando a seleção da característica nesta idade.

Bayesian inference in a quantitative genetic study of growth traits in Nelore cattle (Bos indicus)

The objective of this study was to estimate (co)variance components and genetic parameters for weights (W) and scrotal circumferences (SC) at 365 and 450 days of age, of Nelore (Bos indicus) cattle, using Bayesian inference in single and multiple-trait animal models. The fitted linear models included, besides the animal and residual random effects, the contemporary group (herd-year-season-sex-management group) and age-of-dam as "fixed effects". The analyses were carried out using a Gibbs sampler implemented through the MTGSAM program. The heritabilities (in parentheses) obtained fitting single-trait models were W365 (0.49), W450 (0.52), SC365 (0.68) and SC450 (0.66). Estimates of means, modes and medians for genetic parameters obtained from marginal posterior distributions were similar for all traits. The W365 and SC365 can be considered as suitable traits to be included as selection criteria in genetic improvement programs, not only because of their relatively high heritabilities but also due to the fact that they can be measured when the animals are relatively young compared to the corresponding traits W450 and SC450. The Bayesian approach appears to be an appropriate alternative for estimating genetic parameters, and has the advantage over point estimation methods of allowing inferences on marginal posterior distributions.