An SNP in the MyoD1 Gene Intron 2 Associated with Growth and Carcass Traits in Three Duck Populations

Myogenic differentiation 1 (MyoD1) genes belong to the MyoD gene family and play key roles in growth and muscle development. This study was designed to investigate the effects of variants in the MyoD1 gene on duck growth and carcass traits. Three duck populations (Cherry Valley, Jingjiang, and Muscovy) were sampled, their growth and carcass traits were measured, and they were genotyped using the PCR–RFLP method. The results showed one novel polymorphism, an alteration in intron 2 of the MyoD1 gene (A to T). It was associated with the traits of weight at 8?weeks, carcass weight, breast muscle weight, leg muscle weight, eviscerated percentage, percentage of leg muscle weight, dressing percentage, and lean meat percentage. This alteration in intron 2 of MyoD1 may be linked with potential major loci or genes affecting some growth and carcass traits.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in chicken lmbr1 gene were associated with chicken growth and carcass traits

Lmbr1 is the key candidate gene controlling vertebrate limb development, but its effects on animal growth and carcass traits have never been reported. In this experiment, lmbr1 was taken as the candi-date gene affecting chicken growth and carcass traits. T/C and G/A mutations located in exon 16 and one A/C mutation located in intron 5 of chicken lmbr1 were detected from Silky, White Plymouth Rock broilers and their F2 crossing chickens by PCR-SSCP and sequencing methods. The analysis of vari-ance (ANOVA) results suggests that T/C polymorphism of exon 16 had significant association with eviscerated yield rate (EYR), gizzard rate (GR), shank and claw rate (SCR) and shank girth (SG); A/C polymorphism of intron 5 was significantly associated with SCR, liver rate and head-neck weight (HNW), while both sites had no significant association with other growth and carcass traits. These results demonstrate that lmbr1 gene could be a genetic locus or linked to a major gene significantly affecting these growth and carcass traits in chicken.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in chicken <Emphasis Type="Italic">lmbr1</Emphasis> gene were associated with chicken growth and carcass traits

Lmbr1 is the key candidate gene controlling vertebrate limb development, but its effects on animal growth and carcass traits have never been reported. In this experiment, lmbr1 was taken as the candidate gene affecting chicken growth and carcass traits. T/C and G/A mutations located in exon 16 and one A/C mutation located in intron 5 of chicken lmbr1 were detected from Silky, White Plymouth Rock broilers and their F₂ crossing chickens by PCR-SSCP and sequencing methods. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results suggests that T/C polymorphism of exon 16 had significant association with eviscerated yield rate (EYR), gizzard rate (GR), shank and claw rate (SCR) and shank girth (SG); A/C polymorphism of intron 5 was significantly associated with SCR, liver rate and head-neck weight (HNW), while both sites had no significant association with other growth and carcass traits. These results demonstrate that lmbr1 gene could be a genetic locus or linked to a major gene significantly affecting these growth and carcass traits in chicken.     

Single nucleotide polymorphisms in chicken lmbr1 gene were associated with chicken growth and carcass traits

Lmbr1 is the key candidate gene controlling vertebrate limb development, but its effects on animal growth and carcass traits have never been reported. In this experiment, lmbr1 was taken as the candidate gene affecting chicken growth and carcass traits. T/C and G/A mutations located in exon 16 and one A/C mutation located in intron 5 of chicken lmbr1 were detected from Silky, White Plymouth Rock broilers and their F₂ crossing chickens by PCR-SSCP and sequencing methods. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) results suggests that T/C polymorphism of exon 16 had significant association with eviscerated yield rate (EYR), gizzard rate (GR), shank and claw rate (SCR) and shank girth (SG); A/C polymorphism of intron 5 was significantly associated with SCR, liver rate and head-neck weight (HNW), while both sites had no significant association with other growth and carcass traits. These results demonstrate that lmbr1 gene could be a genetic locus or linked to a major gene significantly affecting these growth and carcass traits in chicken. Supported by the State Major Basic Research Development Program (Grant No. G20000161) and Beijing Natural Science Foundation (Grant No. 5011002)     

鸭前胰岛素原基因多态性及其与屠体性状的关联分析

以384只北京鸭 (Z2系、Z4系、Z2×Z4杂交系)和樱桃谷鸭为材料, 利用PCR-SSCP结合测序技术, 对前胰岛素原基因外显子2与部分内含子的多态性进行了研究, 并分析对屠体性状的遗传效应。结果发现存在2个单核苷酸突变位点, 即在第179位和第195位分别发生了T→C和C→T的突变。适合性χ2检验结果表明, 北京鸭各品系和樱桃谷鸭均处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P>0.05)。最小二乘分析SNPs与屠体性状的关系表明, 在北京鸭3个品系中, 基因型 BB 在胴体重、全净膛重和胸肌重上极显著(P<0.01)高于基因型AA和AB, 在腿肌重和皮脂重上极显著(P<0.01)高于基因型AB; 基因型AA在皮脂率和全净膛重上极显著(P<0.01)和显著(P<0.05)高于基因型AB。而对于樱桃谷鸭, 只有AB型在皮脂重和腹脂重上显著(P<0.05)高于基因型AA。研究结果表明, 鸭前胰岛素原基因多态性与鸭的部分屠体性状存在显著相关性, 且B等位基因有利于增加鸭的胴体重和胸肌重。     

Identification of a novel 43-bp insertion in the heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase 3 (HS6ST3) gene and its associations with growth and carcass traits in chickens

Previous studies have revealed a significant association between SNPs found within the heparan sulfate 6-O-sulfotransferase 3 (HS6ST3) gene and obesity. This study identified a novel 43-bp indel polymorphism in intron 1 of HS6ST3 in 1963 chickens from nine different breeds, and three genotypes, designated II, ID and DD, were observed. The frequency of the ‘I’ (0.62–0.87) allele was higher than that of the ‘D’ (0.13–0.38) allele. A total of 777 individuals of the Gushi-Anka F₂ resource population were used for the analysis of associations according to growth traits, carcass traits, serum variables and meat quality traits. The results showed that the 43-bp indel polymorphism was significantly associated with the body weight at 4 and 6 weeks of age, chest depth at 4 and 12 weeks of age and shank girth at 12 weeks of age (P?<?0.05). In terms of the carcass traits, the indel polymorphism was significantly associated with breast muscle weight, heart weight and leg weight (P?<?0.05). These findings suggested that this indel polymorphism has the potential to become a new target for the marker-assisted selection of chicken growth and carcass traits.     

鸭生长激素基因内含子2、3多态性分析

根据鸭生长激素基因内含子2、3的序列设计5对引物,利用PCR-SSCP方法对北京鸭、西湖野鸭、金定鸭、山麻鸭、荆江鸭、绍兴鸭等6个鸭品种进行了单核苷酸多态性分析, 并检测其多态性。结果共发现8个突变位点, 其中内含子2有7个: 2593处C-T, 2770处G-A, 2813处T-A, 2829处C-A, 2894处C-T, 2896处T-C,3100处C-G; 内含子3有1个: 3270处A-G。统计结果显示, 这8个变异位点的基因型频率分布与品种有关, 在这些基因座的变异水平上, 北京鸭和绍兴鸭表现出了相当的品种保守性, 本研究所检测到的这些基因座可能与鸭的生产性能有关。     

Discovery of a SNP in exon 7 of the lipoprotein lipase gene and its association with fatness traits in native and Cherry Valley Peking ducks

Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is a multifunctional protein, playing a major role in the hydrolysis of triglycerides in chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins. This study was designed to investigate the effects of variants in exon 7 of the LPL gene on duck growth and fatness traits. Two populations (native and Cherry Valley Peking duck populations) were used in this study. Growth and fatness traits were measured in them. Primers for exon 7 of the LPL gene were designed from chicken genomic and cDNA sequences. Polymorphisms were detected by DNA sequencing, and a PCR-SSCP method was developed to genotype the two populations. The results showed one novel polymorphism: a synonymous alteration in exon 7 of the LPL gene (c.91C>T; EU834120 and EU834121). It was associated with abdominal fat weight and percentage of abdominal fat weight of native Peking duck and with percentage of subcutaneous fat plus skin weight and abdominal fat weight of Cherry Valley Peking duck. The alteration in exon 7 of LPL may be linked with potential major loci or genes affecting some fatness traits.     

Association od the DdeI growth hormone gene polymorphism with some performance traits in Polish Large White and Czech Large White x Polish Large White pigs

The genotypes of growth hormone gene polymorphisms (GH-DdeI, GH-MspI, GH-HaeII, GH-ApaI, GH-CfoI) were determined in 78 pigs [Czech Large White sires (CLWsire line) x Polish Large White (PLW) sows, Polish Large White sires x Polish Large White sows], by the PCR-RFLP method. Preliminary studies found only GH DdeI polymorphism to be associated with performance traits. The associations of this polymorphism with growth and carcass traits were investigated. The linear model included the effects of candidate genes, genetic groups, sex and linear covariables of age at slaughter and body weight at weaning. The DdeI polymorphism of the GH gene showed associations with carcass length (P 相似文献   

Genetic Polymorphisms of the CACNA2D1 Gene and Their Association with Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Cattle

The objective of this study was to identify genetic polymorphisms of the CACNA2D1 gene and to analyze associations between SNPs and carcass and meat quality traits in cattle. Through PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing methods, a new allelic variant corresponding to the A → G mutation (aspartic to glycine amino acid replacement) of the bovine CACNA2D1 gene was detected. Two alleles and three genotypes (AA, AG, and GG) were defined. Genetic character indicated that the A526745G locus showed moderate polymorphism and was in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Gene-specific SNP marker association analysis showed that the A526745G mutant was significantly associated with carcass weight, dressing percentage, meat percentage, and backfat thickness. The results add new evidence that CACNA2D1 is an important candidate gene for the selection of carcass and meat quality traits in the cattle industry.     

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies Loci and Candidate Genes for Body Composition and Meat Quality Traits in Beijing-You Chickens

Body composition and meat quality traits are important economic traits of chickens. The development of high-throughput genotyping platforms and relevant statistical methods have enabled genome-wide association studies in chickens. In order to identify molecular markers and candidate genes associated with body composition and meat quality traits, genome-wide association studies were conducted using the Illumina 60 K SNP Beadchip to genotype 724 Beijing-You chickens. For each bird, a total of 16 traits were measured, including carcass weight (CW), eviscerated weight (EW), dressing percentage, breast muscle weight (BrW) and percentage (BrP), thigh muscle weight and percentage, abdominal fat weight and percentage, dry matter and intramuscular fat contents of breast and thigh muscle, ultimate pH, and shear force of the pectoralis major muscle at 100 d of age. The SNPs that were significantly associated with the phenotypic traits were identified using both simple (GLM) and compressed mixed linear (MLM) models. For nine of ten body composition traits studied, SNPs showing genome wide significance (P<2.59E−6) have been identified. A consistent region on chicken (Gallus gallus) chromosome 4 (GGA4), including seven significant SNPs and four candidate genes (LCORL, LAP3, LDB2, TAPT1), were found to be associated with CW and EW. Another 0.65 Mb region on GGA3 for BrW and BrP was identified. After measuring the mRNA content in beast muscle for five genes located in this region, the changes in GJA1 expression were found to be consistent with that of breast muscle weight across development. It is highly possible that GJA1 is a functional gene for breast muscle development in chickens. For meat quality traits, several SNPs reaching suggestive association were identified and possible candidate genes with their functions were discussed.     

Genetic Diversity of the Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R) Gene and its Association with Slaughter Traits in the Landes Goose

Melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) plays a crucial part in regulating feeding behavior in humans and rodents. We detected two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; c.108G → A and c.627C → T) in the goose MC4R gene and genotyped 94 Landes geese for association analysis with several carcass traits. Significant associations (P < 0.05) were obtained for c.108G → A with carcass weight, breast muscle percentage, and leg muscle percentage, and for c.627C → T with body weight, carcass weight, semi-eviscerated weight, and eviscerated weight. We re-constructed haplotypes based on the two SNPs and analyzed diplotypes in association with carcass traits, obtaining significant associations with several of the traits. These results suggest that polymorphisms in the MC4R gene could have effects on carcass traits in Landes geese. More study is required to confirm these results.     

Expression pattern and polymorphism of three microsatellite markers in the porcine CA3 gene

Carbonic anhydrase III (CA3) is an abundant muscle protein characteristic of adult type-1, slow-twitch, muscle fibres. In order to further understand the functions of the porcine CA3 protein in muscle, the temporal and spatial distributions of its gene product were analysed and the association between the presence of specific polymorphisms and carcass traits in the pig was also examined. Real-time PCR revealed that the CA3 mRNA expression showed no differences with age in skeletal muscles from Yorkshire pigs at postnatal day-1, month-2, and month-4. We provide the first evidence that CA3 is differentially expressed in the skeletal muscle of Yorkshire and Meishan pig breeds. In addition, the whole pig genomic DNA sequence of CA3 was investigated and shown to contain seven exons and six introns. Comparative sequencing of the gene from three pig breeds revealed the existence of microsatellite SJ160 in intron 5 and microsatellite SJ158 and a novel microsatellite marker that includes a tandem repeat of (TC)_n in intron 4. We also determined the allele number and frequencies of the three loci in seven pig breeds and found that they are low polymorphic microsatellite markers. Statistical analysis showed that the CA3 microsatellite polymorphism was associated with dressing percentage, internal fat rate, carcass length, rib number and backfat thickness in the pig.     

Polymorphism of chicken myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor 2A gene and its association with chicken carcass traits

Myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor 2A (MEF2A) gene is a member of the myocyte-specific enhancer-binding factor 2 (MEF2) protein family which involved in vertebrate skeletal muscle development and differentiation. The aim of the current study is to investigate the potential associations between MEF2A gene SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and the carcass traits in 471 chicken samples from four populations. Three new SNPs (T46023C, A72626G, and T89232G) were detected in the chicken MEF2A gene. The T46023C genotypes were associated with live body weight (BW), carcass weight (CW), eviscerated weight, semi-eviscerated weight (SEW), and leg muscle weight (LMW) (P < 0.05); the A72626G genotypes were associated with BW, CW, LMW (P < 0.01) and breast muscle weight (BMW), leg muscle percentage (LMP) (P < 0.05); whereas the T89232G genotypes were associated with carcass percentage (CP) and semi-eviscerated percentage (SEP) (P < 0.05). The haplotypes constructed on the three SNPs were associated with BW, CW, LMW (P < 0.01), SEW, BMW, CP (P < 0.05). Significantly and suggestive dominant effects of diplotype H1H2 were observed for BW, CW, SEW, BMW and CP, whereas diplotype H5H5 had a negative effect on BW, CW, SEW, BMW and LMW. Our results suggest that the MEF2A gene may be a potential marker affecting the muscle trait of chickens.     

脂肪分化相关蛋白基因多态性与优质鸡屠宰性状和肌内脂肪含量的相关性研究

对脂肪分化相关蛋白(Adipocyte Differentiation-Related Protein, ADFP)基因的外显子进行SNPs 检测, 探讨其作为鸡脂肪性状候选基因的可能性。实验以四川省畜牧科学研究院和大恒家禽育种有限公司培育的优质肉鸡新品系为素材, 采用PCR-SSCP的方法进行SNPs 检测和基因型的分析。结果找到3个SNPs位点: 4 079位由A→T(位点A)、4 843位由C→T(位点B)和7 070位由A→G(位点C)。单位点基因型对屠宰性状的遗传效应分析表明, 位点A的基因型对腿肌率、腹脂重、腹脂率和肌内脂肪含量有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 位点B的基因型对活重和屠体重均有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 位点C的基因型对胸肌重和肌内脂肪含量有显著性影响(P < 0.05), 对胸肌率有极显著性影响(P < 0.01)。初步推断ADFP基因可能是影响鸡脂肪性状的主效基因或与主效基因连锁, 推测可以利用多态位点A和C对鸡腹脂重、腹脂率和肌内脂肪含量进行标记辅助选择。     

Novel polymorphisms of goat growth hormone and growth hormone receptor genes and their effects on growth traits

In this study, the polymorphisms of growth hormone (GH) gene 5' promoter region and intron 8, exons 4 and 10 of growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene were analyzed in Xinong Saanen goats (SG) and Boer goats (BG). Two alleles (A and B) and three genotypes (AA, AB and BB) were detected at P1 locus of GH gene, and two alleles (G and T) and two genotypes (GG and GT) were detected at P4 locus of GHR gene by PCR-SSCP analysis. In addition, two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)-A73C (P1 locus) and G114T (P4 locus), were identified by DNA sequencing. The frequencies of alleles A and B in the two goat breeds were 0.61-0.62, and 0.39-0.38, respectively, and the frequencies of alleles G and T in the two goat breeds were 0.82-0.86, and 0.18-0.14, respectively. The SNP loci were in Hardy-Weinberg disequilibrium in both goat breeds (P<0.05). Polymorphisms of GH and GHR genes were shown to be associated with growth traits in BG breed. AA and GG genotypes were associated with superior growth traits in 1-, 2- and 3-month old individuals. Hence, AA and GG genotypes are suggested to be a molecular marker for superior growth traits in BG breed.     

Associations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">GHSR</Emphasis> gene polymorphisms with chicken growth and carcass traits

Ghrelin receptor (GHSR), or growth hormone secretagogue receptor, modulates many physiological effects by binding to its ligand and therefore is a candidate gene for chicken production performance. In this study, five polymorphisms (four SNP and a ‘GGTACA’ indel) of GHSR gene were genotyped in a F₂ full sib chicken population to investigate their associations with production traits. Results showed that c.739 + 726T > C (M2) was significantly associated with body weight (BW) at 28 days (BW28), BW90, dressed weight, eviscerated weight, eviscerated weight with giblet, breast muscle weight and leg muscle weight (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, T allele rather than C was positive for chicken body weight gain as individuals with CC had the lowest value of all traits. Otherwise, no significant association of c.264G > A (M1), c.3211-196_3211-181delGGTACA (M3), c.3211 + 75C > T (M4), and c.3211 + 150C > T (M5) with any growth and carcass traits was found. Haplotypes based on five polymorphisms were significantly associated with hatch weight, BW7, BW14, BW21 and breast angle (P < 0.05), as well as BW28 (P < 0.01). Therefore, it was concluded that M2 of the GHSR gene and the analyzed haplotypes were associated with some chicken growth and carcass traits.     

Polymorphisms and expression of the chicken POU1F1 gene associated with carcass traits

POU1F1 is an essential factor that regulates the development and reproduction of animal. The objective of the current research was to screen for polymorphism, expression of POU1F1 and their association with carcass quality traits. A total of 126 Erlang mountainous chickens from two strains (SD02 and SD03) were employed for testing. Seventeen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected, but only two SNPs (g.96217999 T > C and g.96219442 C > T) were associated with carcass quality traits. In SD03 chicken, g.96217999 T > C genotypes were significantly associated with body weight (BW), carcass weight (CW), eviscerated weight (EW), and semi-eviscerated weight (SEW; P < 0.05), and was highly significantly associated with breast muscle weight (BMW) and abdominal fat weight (AW; P < 0.01). g.96219442 C > T was significantly associated with BW, EW, SEW (P < 0.05). However, these two SNPs were not significantly associated with any carcass traits in SD02 chicken. Diplotypes showed that in SD03 chicken, the haplotype [C: C] was the most favorable haplotype because it was associated with higher BW, CW, SEW, EW, BMW, and AW (P < 0.05). On the contrary, haplotype [T: T] was associated with lower carcass quality traits (P < 0.01). In addition, qRT-PCR revealed that at 13 weeks, the POU1F1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in breast muscle of cock compared to that of hens (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant correlation between POU1F1 expression and carcass traits. These results suggested that POU1F1 could be a potential candidate gene for carcass traits in chicken.     

Differential gene expression in liver of inbred chickens and their hybrid offspring

Differential display of mRNA was used to analyse the differences of gene expression in liver between chicken hybrids and their parents in a 4 x 4 diallel crosses in order to study the molecular basis of heterosis in chickens. The results indicated that patterns of gene expression in hybrids differ significantly from their parents. Four patterns of differential gene expression were revealed, which included: (i) bands only detected in the hybrid F1s (UNF1); (ii) bands only absent in the hybrid F1s (ABF1); (iii) bands only detected in the parental P1 or P2 lines (UNP1 and UNP2) and (iv) bands absent in the parental P1 or P2 lines (ABP1 and ABP2). In addition, correlations between patterns of gene expression and heterosis percentages of nine carcass traits of 8-week-old chickens were evaluated. Statistical results showed that negative correlations between heterosis percentages and the percentage of F1-specific bands (UNF1) were significant at P < 0.01 for breast muscle yield, leg muscle yield, wing weight, eviscerated weight and eviscerated weight with giblet of 8-week-old chickens, and at P < 0.05 for intermuscular fat width. Heterosis percentage was negatively correlated with ABP (bands present in the hybrid F1s and one parental line but absent in the other parental line, ABP1 and ABP2) for breast muscle yield, leg muscle yield, wing weight, eviscerated weight and eviscerated weight with giblet of 8-week-old chickens (P < 0.01). Bands detected only in the hybrid F1s but not in either of the parental lines (UNF1) and bands absent in parental P1 or P2 lines (which includes ABP1 and ABP2) may play important roles in chicken heterosis.