Application of alternative models to identify QTL for growth traits in an F2 Duroc x Pietrain pig resource population

Background

Several lines of evidence including allozyme analysis, restriction digest patterns and sequencing of mtDNA as well as mini- and micro-satellite allele frequencies indicate that Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from North America and Europe are genetically distinct. These observations are supported by karyotype analysis, which revealed that North American Atlantic salmon have 27 pairs of chromosomes whereas European salmon have 29 pairs. We set out to construct a linkage map for a North American Atlantic salmon family and to compare this map with the well developed map for European Atlantic salmon.

Results

We used microsatellite markers, which had previously been mapped in the two Atlantic salmon SALMAP mapping families from the River Tay, Scotland, to carry out linkage analysis in an Atlantic salmon family (NB1) whose parents were derived from the Saint John River stock in New Brunswick, Canada. As large differences in recombination rates between female and male Atlantic salmon have been noted, separate genetic maps were constructed for each sex. The female linkage map comprises 218 markers in 37 linkage groups while the male map has 226 markers in 28 linkage groups. We combined 280 markers from the female and male maps into 27 composite linkage groups, which correspond to the haploid number of chromosomes in Atlantic salmon from the Western Atlantic.

Conclusions

A comparison of the composite NB1 and SALMAP linkage maps revealed the reason for the difference in the chromosome numbers between European and North American Atlantic salmon: Linkage groups AS-4 and AS-32 in the Scottish salmon, which correspond to chromosomes Ssa-6 and Ssa-22, are combined into a single NB1 linkage group as are linkage groups AS-21 and AS-33 (corresponding to chromosomes Ssa-26 and Ssa-28). The comparison of the linkage maps also suggested some additional chromosomal rearrangements, but it will require finer mapping, potentially using SNPs, to test these predictions. Our results provide the first comparison of the genomic architecture of Atlantic salmon from North America and Europe with respect to chromosome organization.     

Identification of the sex-determining locus of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) on chromosome 2

We have integrated data from linkage mapping, physical mapping and karyotyping to gain a better understanding of the sex-determining locus, SEX, in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). SEX has been mapped to Atlantic salmon linkage group 1 (ASL1) and is associated with several microsatellite markers. We have used probes designed from the flanking regions of these sex-linked microsatellite markers to screen a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, representing an 11.7x coverage of the Atlantic salmon genome, which has been HindIII fingerprinted and assembled into contigs. BACs containing sex-linked microsatellites and their related contigs have been identified and representative BACs have been placed on the Atlantic salmon chromosomes by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). This identified chromosome 2, a large metacentric, as the sex chromosome. By positioning several BACs on this chromosome by FISH, it was possible to orient ASL1 with respect to chromosome 2. The region containing SEX appears to lie on the long arm between marker Ssa202DU and a region of heterochromatin identified by DAPI staining. BAC end-sequencing of clones within sex-linked contigs revealed five hitherto unmapped genes along the sex chromosome. We are using an in silico approach coupled with physical probing of the BAC library to extend the BAC contigs to provide a physical map of ASL1, with a view to sequencing chromosome 2 and, in the process, identifying the sex-determining gene.     

BAC-based upgrading and physical integration of a genetic SNP map in Atlantic salmon

A better understanding of the genotype–phenotype correlation of Atlantic salmon is of key importance for a whole range of production, life history and conservation biology issues attached to this species. High-density linkage maps integrated with physical maps and covering the complete genome are needed to identify economically important genes and to study the genome architecture. Linkage maps of moderate density and a physical bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) fingerprint map for the Atlantic salmon have already been generated. Here, we describe a strategy to combine the linkage mapping with the physical integration of newly identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We resequenced 284 BAC-ends by PCR in 14 individuals and detected 180 putative SNPs. After successful validation of 152 sequence variations, genotyping and genetic mapping were performed in eight salmon families comprising 376 individuals. Among these, 110 SNPs were positioned on a previously constructed linkage map containing SNPs derived from expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences. Tracing the SNP markers back to the BACs enabled the integration of the genetic and physical maps by assigning 73 BAC contigs to Atlantic salmon linkage groups.     

A comparative analysis of the rainbow trout genome with 2 other species of fish (Arctic charr and Atlantic salmon) within the tetraploid derivative Salmonidae family (subfamily: Salmoninae).

We updated the genetic map of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) for 2 outcrossed mapping panels, and used this map to assess the putative chromosome structure and recombination rate differences among linkage groups. We then used the rainbow trout sex-specific maps to make comparisons with 2 other ancestrally polyploid species of salmonid fishes, Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus) and Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to identify homeologous chromosome affinities within each species and ascertain homologous chromosome relationships among the species. Salmonid fishes exhibit a wide range of sex-specific differences in recombination rate, with some species having the largest differences for any vertebrate species studied to date. Our current estimate of female:male recombination rates in rainbow trout is 4.31:1. Chromosome structure and (or) size is associated with recombination rate differences between the sexes in rainbow trout. Linkage groups derived from presumptive acrocentric type chromosomes were observed to have much lower sex-specific differences in recombination rate than metacentric type linkage groups. Arctic charr is karyotypically the least derived species (i.e., possessing a high number of acrocentric chromosomes) and Atlantic salmon is the most derived (i.e., possessing a number of whole-arm fusions). Atlantic salmon have the largest female:male recombination ratio difference (i.e., 16.81:1) compared with rainbow trout, and Arctic charr (1.69:1). Comparisons of recombination rates between homologous segments of linkage groups among species indicated that when significant experiment-wise differences were detected (7/24 tests), recombination rates were generally higher in the species with a less-derived chromosome structure (6/7 significant comparisons). Greater similarity in linkage group syntenies were observed between Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout, suggesting their closer phylogenetic affinities, and most interspecific linkage group comparisons support a model that suggests whole chromosome arm translocations have occurred in the evolution of this group. However, some possible exceptions were detected and these findings are discussed in relation to their influence on segregation distortion patterns. We also report unusual meiotic segregation patterns in a female parent involving the duplicated (homeologous) linkage group pair 12/16 and discuss several models that may account for these patterns.     

Comparative Genomics Identifies Candidate Genes for Infectious Salmon Anemia (ISA) Resistance in Atlantic Salmon (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo salar</Emphasis>)

Infectious salmon anemia (ISA) has been described as the hoof and mouth disease of salmon farming. ISA is caused by a lethal and highly communicable virus, which can have a major impact on salmon aquaculture, as demonstrated by an outbreak in Chile in 2007. A quantitative trait locus (QTL) for ISA resistance has been mapped to three microsatellite markers on linkage group (LG) 8 (Chr 15) on the Atlantic salmon genetic map. We identified bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) clones and three fingerprint contigs from the Atlantic salmon physical map that contains these markers. We made use of the extensive BAC end sequence database to extend these contigs by chromosome walking and identified additional two markers in this region. The BAC end sequences were used to search for conserved synteny between this segment of LG8 and the fish genomes that have been sequenced. An examination of the genes in the syntenic segments of the tetraodon and medaka genomes identified candidates for association with ISA resistance in Atlantic salmon based on differential expression profiles from ISA challenges or on the putative biological functions of the proteins they encode. One gene in particular, HIV-EP2/MBP-2, caught our attention as it may influence the expression of several genes that have been implicated in the response to infection by infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV). Therefore, we suggest that HIV-EP2/MBP-2 is a very strong candidate for the gene associated with the ISAV resistance QTL in Atlantic salmon and is worthy of further study.     

A linkage map of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reveals an uncommonly large difference in recombination rate between the sexes

A genetic linkage map of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was constructed, using 54 microsatellites and 473 amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. The mapping population consisted of two full-sib families within one paternal half-sib family from the Norwegian breeding population. A mapping strategy was developed that facilitated the construction of separate male and female maps, while retaining all the information contributed by the dominant AFLP markers. By using this strategy, we were able to map a significant number of the AFLP markers for which all informative offspring had two heterozygous parents; these markers then served as bridges between the male and female maps. The female map spanned 901 cM and had 33 linkage groups, while the male spanned 103 cM and had 31 linkage groups. Twenty-five linkage groups were common between the two maps. The construction of the genetic map revealed a large difference in recombination rate between females and males. The ratio of female recombination rate vs. male recombination rate was 8.26, the highest ratio reported for any vertebrate. This map constitutes the first linkage map of Atlantic salmon, one of the most important aquaculture species worldwide.     

Chromosomal differences between European and North American Atlantic salmon discovered by linkage mapping and supported by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Geographical isolation has generated a distinct difference between Atlantic salmon of European and North American Atlantic origin. The European Atlantic salmon generally has 29 pairs of chromosomes and 74 chromosome arms whereas it has been reported that the North American Atlantic salmon has 27 chromosome pairs and an NF of 72. In order to predict the major chromosomal rearrangements causing these differences, we constructed a dense linkage map for Atlantic salmon of North American origin and compared it with the well-developed map for European Atlantic salmon. RESULTS: The presented male and female genetic maps for the North American subspecies of Atlantic salmon, contains 3,662 SNPs located on 27 linkage groups. The total lengths of the female and male linkage maps were 2,153 cM and 968 cM respectively, with males characteristically showing recombination only at the telomeres. We compared these maps with recently published SNP maps from European Atlantic salmon, and predicted three chromosomal reorganization events that we then tested using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. The proposed rearrangements, which define the differences in the karyotypes of the North American Atlantic salmon relative to the European Atlantic salmon, include the translocation of the p arm of ssa01 to ssa23 and polymorphic fusions: ssa26 with ssa28, and ssa08 with ssa29. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified major chromosomal differences between European and North American Atlantic salmon. However, while gross structural differences were significant, the order of genetic markers at the fine-resolution scale was remarkably conserved. This is a good indication that information from the International Cooperation to Sequence the Atlantic salmon Genome, which is sequencing a European Atlantic salmon, can be transferred to Atlantic salmon from North America.     

Major quantitative trait loci affect resistance to infectious pancreatic necrosis in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

Infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPN) is a viral disease currently presenting a major problem in the production of Atlantic salmon (Salmon salar). IPN can cause significant mortality to salmon fry within freshwater hatcheries and to smolts following transfer to seawater, although challenged populations show clear genetic variation in resistance. To determine whether this genetic variation includes loci of major effect, a genomewide quantitative trait loci (QTL) scan was performed within 10 full-sib families that had received a natural seawater IPN challenge. To utilize the large difference between Atlantic salmon male and female recombination rates, a two-stage mapping strategy was employed. Initially, a sire-based QTL analysis was used to detect linkage groups with significant effects on IPN resistance, using two to three microsatellite markers per linkage group. A dam-based analysis with additional markers was then used to confirm and position any detected QTL. Two genomewide significant QTL and one suggestive QTL were detected in the genome scan. The most significant QTL was mapped to linkage group 21 and was significant at the genomewide level in both the sire and the dam-based analyses. The identified QTL can be applied in marker-assisted selection programs to improve the resistance of salmon to IPN and reduce disease-related mortality.     

A linkage map for brown trout (Salmo trutta): chromosome homeologies and comparative genome organization with other salmonid fish

We report on the construction of a linkage map for brown trout (Salmo trutta) and its comparison with those of other tetraploid-derivative fish in the family Salmonidae, including Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and Arctic char (Salvelinus alpinus). Overall, we identified 37 linkage groups (2n = 80) from the analysis of 288 microsatellite polymorphisms, 13 allozyme markers, and phenotypic sex in four backcross families. Additionally, we used gene-centromere analysis to approximate the position of the centromere for 20 linkage groups and thus relate linkage arrangements to the physical morphology of chromosomes. Sex-specific maps derived from multiple parents were estimated to cover 346.4 and 912.5 cM of the male and female genomes, respectively. As previously observed in other salmonids, recombination rates showed large sex differences (average female-to-male ratio was 6.4), with male crossovers generally localized toward the distal end of linkage groups. Putative homeologous regions inherited from the salmonid tetraploid ancestor were identified for 10 pairs of linkage groups, including five chromosomes showing evidence of residual tetrasomy (pseudolinkage). Map alignments with orthologous regions in Atlantic salmon, rainbow trout, and Arctic char also revealed extensive conservation of syntenic blocks across species, which was generally consistent with chromosome divergence through Robertsonian translocations.     

Identification of the sex chromosomes of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and their comparison with the corresponding chromosomes in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Males are the heterogametic sex in salmonid fishes. In brown trout (Salmo trutta) the sex-determining locus, SEX, has been mapped to the end of linkage group BT-28, which corresponds to linkage group AS-8 and chromosome SSA15 in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). We set out to identify the sex chromosomes in brown trout. We isolated Atlantic salmon BAC clones containing microsatellite markers that are on BT-28 and also on AS-8, and used these BACs as probes for fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. SEX is located on the short arm of a small subtelocentric/acrocentric chromosome in brown trout, which is consistent with linkage analysis. The acrocentric chromosome SSA15 in Atlantic salmon appears to have arisen by a centric fusion of 2 small acrocentric chromosomes in the common ancestor of Salmo sp. We speculate that the fusion process that produced Atlantic salmon chromosome SSA15 disrupted the ancestral sex-determining locus in the Atlantic salmon lineage, providing the impetus either for the relocation of SEX or selection pressure for a novel sex-determining gene to arise in this species. Thus, the sex-determining genes may differ in Atlantic salmon and brown trout.     

Comparison of GNRH3 genes across salmonid genera

Genomic sequences of gonadotropin-releasing hormone genes were amplified and examined for sequence divergence among members of three different genera of the subfamily Salmoninae: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), and Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus). Sequences of GNRH3A and GNRH3B (formerly known as sGnRH1 and sGnRH2) were 97-99% similar in coding regions and 94-98% similar in non-coding regions among genera, but comparisons within species between GNRH3A and GNRH3B were only 90-92% similar in coding regions and 83-89% similar in non-coding regions. Polymorphisms in the parents of mapping families for each species allowed for linkage mapping of the GNRH3B gene in all three species and the GNRH3A gene in rainbow trout. GNRH3B maps to linkage group 6 in rainbow trout, linkage group 16 in Atlantic salmon and linkage group 25 in Arctic charr. GNRH3A mapped to linkage group 30 in rainbow trout.     

A cryptic RRY(i) microsatellite from Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar): characterization and chromosomal location.

In this article we describe the isolation and characterization of a cryptic RRY(i) microsatellite from an Atlantic salmon genomic cosmid library. The chromosomal location of the microsatellite-containing cosmid was performed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) showing a single-locus signal located on an interstitial position of an acrocentric pair. The suitability of this type of microsatellite marker for population genetic analysis and for the development of a genetic map in this species is discussed. In addition, the usefulness of cosmid libraries for physical mapping of microsatellite markers and therefore for the integration of physical and genetic maps is pointed out.     

A combined AFLP and microsatellite linkage map and pilot comparative genomic analysis of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax L

European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L., Moronidae, Teleostei) sustains a regional fishery and is commonly farmed in the Mediterranean basin, but has not undergone much long-term genetic improvement. An updated genetic linkage map of the European sea bass was constructed using 190 microsatellites, 176 amplified fragment length polymorphisms and two single nucleotide polymorphisms. From the 45 new microsatellite markers (including 31 type I markers) reported in this study, 28 were mapped. A total of 368 markers were assembled into 35 linkage groups. Among these markers, 28 represented type I (coding) markers, including those located within the peptide Y, SOX10, PXN1, ERA and TCRB genes (linkage groups 1, 7, 16, 17 and 27 respectively). The sex-averaged map spanned 1373.1 centimorgans (cM) of the genome. The female map measured 1380.0 cM, whereas the male map measured 1046.9 cM, leading to a female-to-male (F:M) recombination rate ratio of 1.32:1. The intermarker spacing of the second-generation linkage map of the European sea bass was 3.67 cM, which is smaller than that of the first-generation linkage map (5.03 cM). Comparative mapping of microsatellite flanking regions was performed with five model teleosts and this revealed a high percentage (33.6%) of evolutionarily conserved regions with the three-spined stickleback.     

An integrated linkage map reveals candidate genes underlying adaptive variation in Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)

Salmonids are an important cultural and ecological resource exhibiting near worldwide distribution between their native and introduced range. Previous research has generated linkage maps and genomic resources for several species as well as genome assemblies for two species. We first leveraged improvements in mapping and genotyping methods to create a dense linkage map for Chinook salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha by assembling family data from different sources. We successfully mapped 14 620 SNP loci including 2336 paralogs in subtelomeric regions. This improved map was then used as a foundation to integrate genomic resources for gene annotation and population genomic analyses. We anchored a total of 286 scaffolds from the Atlantic salmon genome to the linkage map to provide a framework for the placement 11 728 Chinook salmon ESTs. Previously identified thermotolerance QTL were found to colocalize with several candidate genes including HSP70, a gene known to be involved in thermal response, as well as its inhibitor. Multiple regions of the genome with elevated divergence between populations were also identified, and annotation of ESTs in these regions identified candidate genes for fitness related traits such as stress response, growth and behaviour. Collectively, these results demonstrate the utility of combining genomic resources with linkage maps to enhance evolutionary inferences.     

The first linkage map of the American mink (Mustela vison)

Described herein, the first microsatellite linkage map for the American mink consists of 85 microsatellite markers resolved into 17 linkage groups. The map was constructed using 92 F(1) progeny from five sire families created by crossing mink with different colour types. The linkage groups ranged from 0 to 137 cM. These linkage groups were assigned to 12 of the 14 mink autosomes using a somatic cell hybrid panel. The total map covered 690 sex-averaged Kosambi units with an average marker spacing of 8 cM. This map will facilitate further genetic mapping of monogenic characters and QTL.     

A Preliminary Genetic Linkage Map of the Pacific Abalone Haliotis discus hannai Ino

Preliminary genetic linkage maps were constructed for the Pacific abalone (Haliotis discus hannai Ino) using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and microsatellite markers segregating in a F₁ family. Nine microsatellite loci, 41 RAPD, and 2688 AFLP markers were genotyped in the parents and 86 progeny of the mapping family. Among the 2738 markers, 384 (including 365 AFLP markers, 10 RAPD markers, and 9 microsatellite loci) were polymorphic and segregated in one or both parents: 241 in the female and 146 in the male. The majority of these markers, 232 in the female and 134 in the male, segregated according to the expected 1:1 Mendelian ratio (α = 0.05). Two genetic linkage maps were constructed using markers segregating in the female or the male parent. The female framework map consisted of 119 markers in 22 linkage groups, covering 1773.6 cM with an average intermarker space of 18.3 cM. The male framework map contained 94 markers in 19 linkage groups, spanning 1365.9 cM with an average intermarker space of 18.2 cM. The sex determination locus was mapped to the male map but not to the female map, suggesting a XY-male determination mechanism. Distorted markers showing excess of homozygotes were mapped in clusters, probably because of their linkage to a gene that is incompatible between two parental populations.     

The sockeye salmon neo-Y chromosome is a fusion between linkage groups orthologous to the coho Y chromosome and the long arm of rainbow trout chromosome 2

Unlike other Pacific salmon, sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) have an X(1)X(2)Y sex chromosome system, with females having a diploid chromosome number of 2n = 58 and males 2n = 57 in all populations examined. To determine the origin of the sockeye Y chromosome, we mapped microsatellite loci from the rainbow trout (O. mykiss; OMY) genetic map, including those found on the Y chromosomes of related species, in kokanee (i.e. non-anadromous sockeye) crosses. Results showed that 3 microsatellite loci from the long arm of rainbow trout chromosome 8 (OMY8q), linked to SEX (the sex-determining locus) in coho salmon (O. kisutch), are also closely linked to SEX in the kokanee crosses. We also found that 3 microsatellite loci from OMY2q are linked to those markers from OMY8q and SEX in kokanee, with both linkage groups fused to form the neo-Y. These results were confirmed by physical mapping of BAC clones containing microsatellite loci from OMY8q and OMY2q to kokanee chromosomes using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The fusion of OMY2q to the ancestral Y may have resolved sexual conflict and, in turn, may have played a large role in the divergence of sockeye from a shared ancestor with coho.     

A genetic linkage map of the model legume Lotus japonicus and strategies for fast mapping of new loci

A genetic map for the model legume Lotus japonicus has been developed. The F(2) mapping population was established from an interspecific cross between L. japonicus and L. filicaulis. A high level of DNA polymorphism between these parents was the source of markers for linkage analysis and the map is based on a framework of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Additional markers were generated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and sequence-specific PCR. A total of 524 AFLP markers, 3 RAPD markers, 39 gene-specific markers, 33 microsatellite markers, and six recessive symbiotic mutant loci were mapped. This genetic map consists of six linkage groups corresponding to the six chromosomes in L. japonicus. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with selected markers aligned the linkage groups to chromosomes as described in the accompanying article by Pedrosa et al. 2002(this issue). The length of the linkage map is 367 cM and the average marker distance is 0.6 cM. Distorted segregation of markers was found in certain sections of the map and linkage group I could be assembled only by combining colormapping and cytogenetics (FISH). A fast method to position genetic loci employing three AFLP primer combinations yielding 89 markers was developed and evaluated by mapping three symbiotic loci, Ljsym1, Ljsym5, and Ljhar1-3.     

水产养殖动物遗传连锁图谱及QTL定位研究进展

自1997年美国农业部启动5种水产养殖动物基因组计划以来,在不到10年的时间里,世界各国都相继开展了本国主要水产养殖动物基因组研究。截至2005年底,有近17种海淡水养殖动物公布了遗传连锁图谱：属于高密度连锁图谱的有虹鳟和大西洋鲑（标记数超过1000）;属于中密度遗传连锁图谱的有罗非鱼、沟鲶、黑虎虾、日本牙鲆和欧洲海鲈（标记数为400-1000）;属于低密度遗传连锁图谱的有泰国的胡鲶,中国的栉孔扇贝、鲤鱼,日本的黄尾鲕,美国的牡蛎等近10种养殖种类（标记数少于400）。水产养殖动物遗传连锁图谱的构建和发展,促进了一些与经济性状（如生长、抗逆、发育等）相关的数量性状位点（QTL）的定位研究。然而,QTL定位研究目前只在具有中高密度遗传连锁图谱的鲑科鱼类（虹鳟、大西洋鲑和北极嘉鱼）、罗非鱼、沟鲶和日本牙鲆等种类中开展,而且定位研究仍处在初级水平。遗传连锁图谱的高分辨率和QTL在图谱上的精确定位,是今后能否实现对主要水产养殖动物的经济性状进行遗传操作的技术保证,同时也是实现分子标记或基因辅助育种在水产养殖动物中成功运用的制胜法宝。