An expanded comparative map of bovine chromosome 27 targeting dairy form QTL regions

At present, the density of genes on the bovine maps is extremely limited and current resolution of the human-bovine comparative map is insufficient for selection of candidate genes controlling many economic traits of interest in dairy cattle. This study describes the chromosomal mapping of 10 selected gene-associated markers to bovine linkage and radiation hybrid maps to improve the breakpoint resolution in the human-bovine comparative map near two previously identified quantitative trait loci for the linear type trait, dairy form. Two regions of conserved synteny not previously described are reported between the telomeric region of bovine chromosome 27 (BTA27) and human chromosome 3 (HSA3) p24 region and between the HSA4q34.1 region and BTA8. These data increase the number of genes positioned on the bovine gene maps, refine the human-bovine comparative map, and should improve the efficiency of candidate gene selection for the dairy form trait in cattle.     

A high-resolution radiation hybrid map of bovine chromosome 5q1.3-q2.5 compared with human chromosome 12q

In this study we present a comprehensive 3000-rad radiation hybrid map on bovine chromosome 5 (BTA5) of a region between 12.8 and 74.0 cM according to the linkage map, which contains a quantitative trait loci for ovulation rate. We mapped 28 gene-associated sequence tagged site markers derived from sequences of bovine BAC clones and 10 microsatellite markers to the BTA5 region. In comparison with HSA12q, four blocks of conserved synteny were apparent showing three chromosomal breakpoints and two inversions in this segment of BTA5. Therefore, we have improved breakpoint resolution in the human-bovine comparative map, which enhances the determination of candidate genes underlying traits of interest mapped to BTA5.     

A high-resolution comparative RH map of the proximal part of bovine chromosome 1

Current comparative maps between human chromosome 21 and the proximal part of cattle chromosome 1 are insufficient to define chromosomal rearrangements because of the low density of mapped genes in the bovine genome. The recently completed sequence of human chromosome 21 facilitates the detailed comparative analysis of corresponding segments on BTA1. In this study eight bovine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones containing bovine orthologues of human chromosome 21 genes, i.e. GRIK1, CLDN8, TIAM1, HUNK, SYNJ1, OLIG2, IL10RB, and KCNE2 were physically assigned by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to BTA1q12.1-q12.2. Sequence tagged site (STS) markers derived from these clones were mapped on the 3000 rad Roslin/Cambridge bovine radiation hybrid (RH) panel. In addition to these eight novel markers, 17 known markers from previously published BTA1 linkage or RH maps were also mapped on the Roslin/Cambridge bovine RH panel resulting in an integrated map with 25 markers of 355.4 cR(3000) length. The human-cattle genome comparison revealed the existence of three chromosomal breakpoints and two probable inversions in this region.     

Comparative mapping of bovine chromosome 27 with human chromosome 8 near a dairy form QTL in cattle

In the absence of a complete and annotated bovine genome sequence, detailed human-bovine comparative maps are one of the most effective tools for identification of positional candidate genes contributing to quantitative trait loci (QTL) in cattle. In the present study, eight genes from human chromosome 8 were selected for mapping in cattle to improve breakpoint resolution and confirm gene order on the comparative map near the 40 cM region of the BTA27 linkage map where a QTL affecting dairy form had previously been identified. The resulting map identified ADRB3 as a positional candidate gene for the QTL contributing to the dairy form trait based on its estimated position between 40 and 45 cM on the linkage map. It is also a functional candidate gene due to its role in fat metabolism, and polymorphisms in the ADRB3 gene associated with obesity and metabolic disease in humans, as well as, carcass fat in sheep. Further studies are underway to investigate the existence of polymorphisms in the bovine ADRB3 gene and their association with traits related to fat deposition in cattle.     

Forward to a detailed sequence map of bovine chromosome 6

Numerous QTL for a variety of phenotypic traits in dairy and beef cattle have been mapped on bovine chromosome 6 (BTA6). The complete and validated information on the molecular genome organization is an essential prerequisite for the conclusive identification of the causative sequence variation underlying the QTL. In our study we describe efforts to improve the genomic sequence map assembly of BTA6 by filling-in gaps and by suggesting sequence contig rearrangements. This is achieved by the generation and in silico mapping of BAC-end sequences (BESs) from clones containing sequences placed on our high-resolution radiation hybrid (RH) map of BTA6 onto the genome sequence map. Linking high-resolution RH mapping with in silico mapping of BESs on BTA6 enabled the detection of discrepancies in chromosomal assignments of genome sequence contigs and improved the resolution of non-conclusive assignments on the genome sequence assembly. Furthermore, 37% of BESs enabled chromosomal assignment of contigs previously unassigned. Anchoring of 66% of BESs onto HSA4 confirmed the synteny of the respective region of BTA6 including the known evolutionary breakpoints. The BESs will play an important role in the ongoing efforts to complete the sequence of the bovine genome and will also provide a source for the identification of new polymorphic sites in the genome sequence to resolve QTL-containing intervals.     

A radiation hybrid map of sheep chromosome 23 based on ovine BAC-end sequences

More than 375,000 BAC-end sequences (BES) of the CHORI-243 ovine BAC library have been deposited in public databases. blastn searches with these BES against HSA18 revealed 1806 unique and significant hits. We used blastn-anchored BES for an in silico prediction of gene content and chromosome assignment of comparatively mapped ovine BAC clones. Ovine BES were selected at approximately 1.3-Mb intervals of HSA18 and incorporated into a human-sheep comparative map. An ovine 5000-rad whole-genome radiation hybrid panel (USUoRH5000) was typed with 70 markers, all of which mapped to OAR23. The resulting OAR23 RH map included 43 markers derived from BES with high and unique BLAST hits to the sequence of the orthologous HSA18, nine EST-derived markers, 16 microsatellite markers taken from the ovine linkage map and two bovine microsatellite markers. Six new microsatellite markers derived from the 43 mapped BES and the two bovine microsatellite markers were linkage-mapped using the International Mapping Flock (IMF). Thirteen additional microsatellite markers were derived from other ovine BES with high and unique BLAST hits to the sequence of the orthologous HSA18 and also positioned on the ovine linkage map but not incorporated into the OAR23 RH map. This resulted in 24 markers in common and in the same order between the RH and linkage maps. Eight of the BES-derived markers were mapped using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), to thereby align the RH and cytogenetic maps. Comparison of the ovine chromosome 23 RH map with the HSA18 map identified and localized three major breakpoints between HSA18 and OAR23. The positions of these breakpoints were equivalent to those previously shown for syntenic BTA24 and HSA18. This study presents evidence for the usefulness of ovine BES when constructing a high-resolution comprehensive map for a single sheep chromosome. The comparative analysis confirms and refines knowledge about chromosomal conservation and rearrangements between sheep, cattle and human. The constructed RH map demonstrates the resolution and utility of the newly constructed ovine RH panel.     

Comparative map alignment of BTA27 and HSA4 and 8 to identify conserved segments of genome containing fat deposition QTL

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with fat deposition have been identified on bovine Chromosome 27 (BTA27) in two different cattle populations. To generate more informative markers for verification and refinement of these QTL-containing intervals, we initiated construction of a BTA27 comparative map. Fourteen genes were selected for mapping based on previously identified regions of conservation between the cattle and human genomes. Markers were developed from the bovine orthologs of genes found on human Chromosomes 1 (HSA1), 4, 8, and 14. Twelve genes were mapped on the bovine linkage map by using markers associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms or microsatellites. Seven of these genes were also anchored to the physical map by assignment of fluorescence in situ hybridization probes. The remaining two genes not associated with an identifiable polymorphism were assigned only to the physical map. In all, seven genes were mapped to BTA27. Map information generated from the other seven genes not syntenic with BTA27 refined the breakpoint locations of conserved segments between species and revealed three areas of disagreement with the previous comparative map. Consequently, portions of HSA1 and 14 are not conserved on BTA27, and a previously undefined conserved segment corresponding to HSA8p22 was identified near the pericentromeric region of BTA8. These results show that BTA27 contains two conserved segments corresponding to HSA8p, which are separated by a segment corresponding to HSA4q. Comparative map alignment strongly suggests the conserved segment orthologous to HSA8p21-q11 contains QTL for fat deposition in cattle. Received: 25 February 2000 / Accepted: 30 March 2000     

A comparative map of bovine chromosome 25 with human chromosomes 7 and 16

A comparative genome map is necessary for the implementation of comparative positional candidate gene cloning in cattle. We have developed a medium density comparative gene map of bovine chromosome 25 (BTA25). A radiation hybrid (RH) panel was used to map nine microsatellites and nine genes. Eight of the nine comparative loci were also mapped by FISH. These results were combined with data from published articles to create a comprehensive comparative map of BTA25 with human chromosomes 7 (HSA7) and 16 (HSA16). This map should facilitate the cloning of genes of interest on bovine chromosome 25.     

A comparative linkage and physical map of bovine chromosome 24 with human chromosome 18

Polymorphic microsatellites have been developed in the vicinity of nine genes on bovine chromosome (BTA) 24, all orthologous to genes on human chromosome (HSA) 18. The microsatellites have been isolated from bacterial and yeast artificial chromosome clones containing the genes. A linkage map was developed including these polymorphic markers and four anonymous, published microsatellites. Yeast artificial chromosomes containing six of these genes have also been mapped using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), thereby tying the linkage map together with the physical map of BTA24. Comparing gene location on HSA18 and BTA24 identifies four regions of conserved gene order, each containing at least two genes. These genes identify six regions of conserved order between human and mouse, two more than in the human-bovine comparison. The breakpoints between regions of conserved order for human-bovine are also breakpoints in the human-mouse comparison. The centromere identifies a fifth conserved region if the BTA24 centromere is orthologous with the HSA18 centromere. Received: 17 September 1998 / Accepted: 4 December 1998     

A radiation hybrid map of river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) chromosome 1 (BBU1)

The largest chromosome in the river buffalo karyotype, BBU1, is a submetacentric chromosome with reported homology between BBU1q and bovine chromosome 1 and between BBU1p and BTA27. We present the first radiation hybrid map of this chromosome containing 69 cattle derived markers including 48 coding genes, 17 microsatellites and four ESTs distributed in two linkage groups spanning a total length of 1330.1 cR(5000). The RH map was constructed based on analysis of a recently developed river buffalo-hamster whole genome radiation hybrid (BBURH(5000)) panel. The retention frequency of individual markers across the panel ranged from 17.8 to 52.2%. With few exceptions, the order of markers within linkage groups is identical to the order established for corresponding cattle RH maps. The BBU1 map provides a starting point for comparison of gene order rearrangements between river buffalo chromosome 1 and its bovine homologs.     

A 12 000-rad whole-genome radiation hybrid panel in sheep: application to the study of the ovine chromosome 18 region containing a QTL for scrapie susceptibility

Whole-genome radiation hybrid (RH) panels have been constructed for several species, including cattle. RH panels have proven to be an extremely powerful tool to construct high-density maps, which is an essential step in the identification of genes controlling important traits, and they can be used to establish high-resolution comparative maps. Although bovine RH panels can be used with ovine markers to construct sheep RH maps based on bovine genome organization, only some (c. 50%) of the markers available in sheep can be successfully mapped in the bovine genome. So, with the development of genomics and genome sequencing projects, there is a need for a high-resolution RH panel in sheep to map ovine markers. Consequently, we have constructed a 12 000-rad ovine whole-genome RH panel. Two hundred and eight hybrid clones were produced, of which 90 were selected based on their retention frequency. The final panel had an average marker retention frequency of 31.8%. The resolution of this 12 000-rad panel (SheepRH) was estimated by constructing an RH framework map for a 23-Mb region of sheep chromosome 18 (OAR18) that contains a QTL for scrapie susceptibility.     

A comprehensive radiation hybrid map of bovine Chromosome 26 (BTA26): comparative chromosomal organization between HSA10q and BTA26 and BTA28

In this study, we present a comprehensive 3000-rad radiation hybrid (RH) map of bovine Chromosome (Chr) 26 (BTA26) with 80 markers including 50 genes or ESTs: 44 have an ortholog mapping to human Chr 10 (HSA10) and 29 to mouse Chr (MMU) 7, 10, and 19. Moreover, 12 other HSA10 genes were integrated in a newly developed RH map of BTA28 (seven represent new assignments). The available draft of the mouse genome allowed us to present a detailed picture of the distribution of conserved synteny segments among the three species (human, cattle, and mouse) and to propose a simple model of the comparative chromosomal organization between the long arm of HSA10 and BTA26 and 28. Finally, the INRA bovine BAC library was screened for most of the BTA26 markers considered in this study to provide anchors for the bovine physical map.     

Comparative mapping of cattle chromosome 19: cytogenetic localization of 19 BAC clones

Here we present the results of fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping of a set of cattle BAC clones preselected for assignment on cattle chromosome 19 (BTA19). The BAC clones were anchored to human chromosome 17 (HSA17) sequences by BLASTn similarity search of cattle BAC-ends against the human genome sequence (NCBI build 33). Five blocks of homologous synteny were defined in the comparative map of BTA19 and HSA17 built with FISH data and the human genome coordinates. The positions for four evolutionary breakpoints in the bovine and human chromosomes were identified. Comparison of the FISH comparative map with previously published comparative RH, physical, and cytogenetic maps of BTA19 did not reveal major conflicts and allowed for the extension of the boundaries of homology between BTA19 and HSA17. Comparative analysis of HSA17, BTA19, and mouse chromosome 11 (MMU11) demonstrates that most likely mice retain the ancestral organization of the synteny group, and both cattle and human chromosomes underwent several major internal rearrangements after the divergence of Primates, Rodentia, and Cetartiodactyla.     

High-resolution comparative mapping between human chromosomes 4 and 8 and bovine chromosome 27 provides genes and segments serving as positional candidates for udder health in cattle

To get more information about the order of genes located in Bos taurus (BTA) chromosome 27 segments, supposed to harbor loci influencing clinical mastitis and somatic cell count, and to identify genes that serve as positional candidates for the mentioned traits, we constructed a high-resolution, comparative, and comprehensive gene map for BTA27. The map includes 57 loci in a 5000-rad cattle-hamster whole genome radiation hybrid panel supported by 50 syntenic assignments in a cattle-murine somatic hybrid cell panel. Thirty-eight new loci (36 genes, 2 microsatellites) together with repeated mappings of 5 genes and 7 microsatellites and integration of existing data from 7 microsatellites were used to generate a comprehensive RH5000 map. The RH map, constructed at lod score criterion 8 using the software RHMAP v.3.0, consisted of three linkage groups 23, 22, and 590 cR5000 in length. Gene assignments on BTA27 and the localization of 8 more genes on BTA8 and BTA14 previously predicted on BTA8/BTA27 and BTA14/BTA27 narrowed down significantly the chromosome break points between the three cattle chromosomes and segments on Homo sapiens chromosomes HSA4 and HSA8. Defined evolutionary break points increase the accuracy of comparative in silico mapping of further human genes in conserved chromosome segments of BTA27.     

Development of microsatellite markers and comparative mapping for bovine chromosome 19

Previous research has mapped an ovulation rate quantitative trait locus (QTL) to bovine chromosome 19. In an effort to enhance comparative mapping information and develop additional markers for refined QTL mapping, microsatellite markers were developed in a targeted approach. A bovine bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library was screened for loci with either known or predicted locations on bovine chromosome 19. An average of 6.4 positive BAC were identified per screened locus. A total of 10 microsatellite markers were developed for five targeted loci with heterozygosity of 7-83% in a sample of reference family parents. The newly developed markers were typed on reference families along with four previously mapped marker loci and used to create a linkage map. Comparison of locus order between human and cattle provides support for previously observed rearrangement. One of the mapped loci myotubularin related protein 4 (MTMR4) potentially extends the proximal boundary of a conserved linkage group.     

A radiation hybrid map of bovine chromosome 24 and comparative mapping with human chromosome 18

We present herein a bovine chromosome 24 (BTA24) radiation hybrid (RH) map using 40 markers scored on a panel of 90 RHs. Of these markers, 29 loci were ordered with odds of at least 1000:1 in a framework map. An average retention frequency of 17.4% was observed, with relatively higher frequencies near the centromere. The length of the comprehensive map was 640 centiray5000 (cR5000) with an average marker interval of approximately 17.3 cR5000. The observed locus order is generally consistent with currently published bovine linkage and physical maps. Nineteen markers were either Type I loci or closely associated with expressed sequences and thus could be used to compare the BTA24 RH map with human mapping information. All genes located on BTA24 were located on human chromosome 18, and previously reported regions of conserved synteny were extended. The comparative data revealed the presence of at least six conserved regions between these chromosomes.     

An integrated radiation hybrid map of bovine chromosome 18 that refines a critical region associated with multiple ocular defects in cattle

Congenital multiple ocular defects (MOD) of Japanese black cattle is a hereditary ocular disorder with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance showing developmental defects of the lens, retina and iris, persistent embryonic eye vascularization and microphthalmia. The MOD locus has been mapped by linkage analysis to a 6.6-cM interval on the proximal end of bovine chromosome 18, which corresponds to human chromosome 16q and mouse chromosome 8. To refine the MOD region in cattle, we constructed an integrated radiation hybrid (RH) map of the proximal region of bovine chromosome 18, which consisted of 17 genes and 10 microsatellite markers, using the SUNbRH7000 panel. Strong conservation of gene order was found among the corresponding chromosomal regions in cattle, human and mouse. The MOD-critical region was fine mapped to a 59.5-cR region that corresponds to a 6.3-Mb segment of human chromosome 16 and a 4.8-Mb segment of mouse chromosome 8. Several positional candidate genes, including FOXC2 and USP10, were identified in this region.     

A comparative map of interstitial bovine chromosome 5 with human chromosomes 12 and 22

We have constructed a high-density comparative radiation hybrid map of the interstitial region of bovine chromosome 5 (BTA5) using a recently constructed 12,000-rad, whole-genome, cattle-hamster radiation hybrid (WGRH) panel. Sixty-two bovine EST markers were selected which have orthologous sequences on human chromosomes 12 and 22 (HSA12 and HSA22). Sixty markers were included in the multi-point framework map at LOD 3.0. Our comprehensive RH map contains more than twice as many markers (88) than previous generation maps. Because of a higher marker density and increased resolution of the RH(12,000) panel, all markers were placed into a single linkage group based on two-point analysis at a LOD score 6.0. As a result, this new comparative map reveals new blocks of synteny and extensive gene order alterations between species. Breakpoints of synteny are located with high accuracy. Overall, this work reveals widespread chromosomal rearrangements between bovine, human and mouse genomes.