Association between IGF-I, IGF-IR and GHRH gene polymorphisms and growth and carcass traits in beef cattle

Molecular biology techniques are of help in genetic improvement since they permit the identification, mapping and analysis of polymorphisms of genes encoding proteins that act on metabolic pathways involved in economically interesting traits. The somatotrophic axis, which essentially consists of growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH), growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II), and their associated binding proteins and receptors (GHRHR, GHR, IGF-IR and IGF-IIR), plays a key role in the metabolism and physiology of mammalian growth. The objectives of the present study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies of the IGF-I/SnaBI, IGF-IR/TaqI and GHRH/HaeIII gene polymorphisms in different genetic groups of beef cattle and to determine associations between these polymorphisms and growth and carcass traits. For this purpose, genotyping was performed on 79 Nellore animals, 30 Canchim (5/8 Charolais+3/8 Zebu) animals and 275 crossbred cattle originating from the crosses of Simmental (n=30) and Angus (n=245) sires with Nellore females. In the association studies, traits of interest were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS and least square means of the genotypes were compared by the Tukey test. Associations of IGF-I/SnaBI genotypes with body weight and subcutaneous backfat were significant (p<0.05), and nearly significant for longissimus dorsi area (p=0.06), with the BB genotype being favorable compared to the AB genotype. No significant associations were observed between this polymorphism and weight gain or carcass yield (P>0.05). The IGF-IR/TaqI and GHRH/HaeIII polymorphisms showed no association with production traits.     

Plasma hormone and metabolite concentrations involved in the somatotropic axis of Japanese Black heifers in association with growth hormone gene polymorphism

Bovine growth hormone (bGH) gene polymorphism of leucine (Leu)-threonine (Thr) (allele A), valine (Val)-Thr (allele B), and Val-methionine (Met) (allele C) at codons 127 and 172 was shown to relate with carcass trait variations in Japanese Black cattle. In this study, 10-mo-old Japanese Black heifers with growth hormone (GH) genotypes AA, AB, BB, AC, BC, and CC (N = 141) were compared for basal GH, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin, ghrelin, glucose, and nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Growth hormone release was also measured as response to growth hormone–releasing hormone (GHRH) (0.4 μg/kg body weight [BW]) using 18 heifers with GH genotypes AA, BB, and CC (n = 6 for each group). The genotype AA heifers showed the greatest BW among genotypes (P < 0.05). Genotype AC, BC, and CC heifers showed greater GH concentrations than genotype AA, AB, or BB heifers, in which genotype CC heifers had the highest concentrations (P < 0.05). However, IGF-1 concentrations did not significantly differ. The genotype AA and BB heifers had a greater GH release at 60 min following GHRH injection than did the genotype CC heifers. The area under the curve (AUC; P < 0.07) and incremental area (IA; P < 0.08) of GH responses to the GHRH challenge tended to be the highest in the genotype AA heifers and the lowest in the genotype CC heifers. In conclusion, GH gene polymorphism altered GH, which may have contributed to differences in BW and carcass traits among genotypes.     

生长抑素基因第1外显子多态性与湘西黄牛体尺性状的关联分析

为探讨湘西黄牛分子遗传特征和寻找生长性状相关的分子标记,本试验采用PCR-SSCP方法检测湘西黄牛生长抑素(somatostatin,SST)基因第1外显子126 bp处g.934G>A位点的多态性,并进行了多态性与生长性状的关联分析。结果表明,湘西黄牛在g.934G>A位点有G和A两个等位基因,G等位基因占优势,检测到GG、AG和AA 3种基因型,呈中度多态,达到Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P>0.05)。湘西黄牛GG基因型个体的体高和体长显著大于AA基因型个体(P<0.05);GG和AG基因型个体的胸围和体重极显著大于AA基因型个体(P<0.01)。G等位基因对湘西黄牛的体高、体长、胸围和体重4个性状均为正效应。本试验结果提示,SST基因g.934G>A位点可能为湘西黄牛生长性状的分子遗传标记位点。     

郏县红牛TAFA1基因多态性及其与生长性状的关联分析

本研究旨在探讨TAFA趋化素样家族成员1（TAFA1）基因多态性与郏县红牛生长的关联性。试验共采集了79头郏县红牛成年母牛的血样并提取基因组DNA,利用直接测序法对TAFA1基因上的错义突变SNP rs137516577进行基因型分型,并与郏县红牛体高、体长、胸围、腰角宽、坐骨端宽、尻长、十字部高、荐高、胸深、胸宽、体重等11个生长和体尺性状进行关联分析。同时根据“Animal Omics Datebase”数据库对TAFA1基因的组织表达情况进行分析。结果发现该SNP与体长、腰角宽、坐骨端宽、尻长和体重等性状显著相关（P<0.05）,且GC型个体体长、腰角宽、坐骨端宽、尻长和体重均显著高于GG型（P<0.05）。TAFA1基因在牛大脑组织中表达量最高。结果表明,TAFA1基因上错义突变SNP rs137516577与郏县红牛生长性状相关,可作为郏县红牛生长性状的分子标记。     

An 8bp indel in exon 1 of Ghrelin gene associated with chicken growth

Ghrelin, acts as the endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogues receptor (GHS-R), is a novel growth hormone (GH) releasing peptide with reported effects on food intake in chickens. In this study, an 8 bp indel polymorphism in exon 1 of the chicken Ghrelin (cGHRL) gene was genotyped in a F(2) designed full-sib population to analyze its associations with chicken growth and carcass traits. Later, mRNA level in the proventriculus was determined by real-time PCR to reveal the expression feature of cGHRL gene. Result showed that this 8 bp indel was significantly associated with body weight at the age of 28 days (BW28) and 56 days (BW56), eviscerated weight (EW) and leg muscle weight (LMW) (P<0.05), highly significantly associated with hatch weight (HW), BW14, 21, 35, 42, 49, 90 and body length (BL), dressed weight (DW), eviscerated weight with giblet (EWG), wing weight (WW), breast muscle weight (BMW) and head and neck weight (HNW) (P<0.01). Meanwhile, A allele (with 'CTAACCTG') was positive for chicken growth as individuals with AA genotype had the highest value of all traits. Analysis on cGhrelin mRNA level revealed that it differed significantly among individuals with three genotypes (P<0.05). Individuals with AB genotype had the highest mRNA level, whereas that of AA had the lowest one. It was concluded that this 8 bp indel of cGHRL gene was significantly associated with most body weight and body composition traits, and negative effect of endogenous Ghrelin on chicken growth were indicated by this study.     

Copy number variations at LEPR gene locus associated with gene expression and phenotypic traits in Chinese cattle

Current evidences show that copy number variations (CNVs) are linked to complex phenotypic traits. Leptin receptor (LEPR) gene plays a critical role in energy homeostasis and fat development and re‐sequencing of the cattle genome revealed the CNV region (herein referred to as “I3 DNA”) within the LEPR intron 3. In the present study, we qualified copy numbers of I3 DNA within LEPR gene in four cattle breeds (Qinchuan, Nanyang, Jinnan and Xianan) by quantitative PCR, and explored their impacts on LEPR gene expression and phenotypic traits in Qinchuan and Nanyang cattle. The results showed that more individuals in Nanyang are with loss of the I3 DNA copy number than that in the others. Additionally, I3 DNA CNVs exhibited a significant negative correlation with LEPR gene expression (P < 0.05). Association analysis showed that gain/normal copy number types performed better traits of body weight, body height and body length than the loss type in Nanyang. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence of the association between LEPR CNVs and cattle traits, and this may help deep understanding of the function of CNVs which may be promising markers for beef cattle breeding and genetics. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

延边黄牛α-肌动蛋白1基因的多态性及其与生长性状的相关分析

试验旨在寻找肌内脂肪含量差异极显著的两组个体延边黄牛背最长肌组织差异表达基因,并分析其遗传多态性对生长性状的影响。应用引物退火技术获得了在肌内脂肪含量差异极显著的两组个体背最长肌组织差异表达α-肌动蛋白1(actin alpha 1,ACTA1)基因及其全长cDNA序列,该基因主要在心脏和背最长肌中表达。序列比对结果发现,在5'端非编码区193 bp处存在1个突变。采用PCR-RFLP方法对100头延边黄牛群体进行检测,发现AA、AG、GG 3种基因型,基因型频率分别为0.24、0.50、0.26;A、G等位基因频率分别为0.37、0.63。对该突变位点的多态性与生长性状的关联性进行分析,结果发现,在体长、体重和平均日增重上,GG基因型个体显著高于AA和AG基因型个体(P＜0.05);在胸围上,GG基因型个体显著高于AG基因型个体,但与AA基因型个体差异不显著(P＞0.05);在体高上,不同基因型之间差异不显著(P＞0.05)。初步认为GG基因型是提高延边黄牛体质量和体尺指标性状的有利基因型,提示ACTA1基因有可能作为延边黄牛生长性状的候选基因。     

萨×哈杂交母羊GHRH基因与生长性状关联分析

为探讨GHRH基因作为绵羊生长性状候选基因的可能性,寻找与绵羊生长性状相关的分子标记,对萨福克羊与哈萨克羊杂交成年母羊GHRH基因rs400079090和rs419322328位点的多态性及其与生长性状的关联性进行了研究。结果表明：rs400079090位点检测到3个基因型,rs419322328位点TT基因型缺失;rs419322328位点GG基因型个体胸宽显著大于GT基因型个体（P〈0.05）,体斜长极显著小于GT基因型个体（P〈0.01）。说明GHRH基因2个SNP位点多态性对萨福克羊与哈萨克羊杂交成年母羊生长性状有一定的影响,可以作为进行绵羊生长性状分子标记辅助选择的候选基因。     

郏县红牛IGF2基因多态性与生长性状关系研究

本研究利用PCR-SSCP技术首次对郏县红牛母牛IGF2基因多态性及其与生长性状关系进行了研究。结果表明:IGF2基因第2外显子表现多态性,存在AA、AB、BB三种不同基因型。其频率分别为0.235/0.480/0.285;A/B等位基因频率分别为0.474/0.526;该位点纯合度为0.501,杂合度为0.499,位点间有效等位基因数为1.996。该基因位点处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态(P<0.05)。通过对郏县红牛IGF2基因第2外显子位点不同基因型与样本体重及其它体尺指标的关联分析表明:不同基因型对胸围(P<0.01)和体重(P<0.05)有显著影响,AB基因型个体的胸围和体重明显大于AA和BB型个体。说明IGF2基因可以作为标记用于郏县红牛的肉用选育。     

AQP7基因内含子4多态性与郏县红牛生长性状的关联分析

本试验旨在研究郏县红牛AQP7基因内含子4的遗传变异,分析其遗传多态性对生长性状的影响。采用PCR-SSCP、DNA序列分析及生物信息学技术探讨郏县红牛AQP7基因内含子4的多态性及其与生长性状的关联情况。结果发现,郏县红牛AQP7基因内含子4存在A、B、C 3个等位基因,其基因频率依次为0.838、0.076、0.086;郏县红牛AQP7基因4种不同基因型与其体重和胸围有显著相关(P< 0.05),与其他指标不存在相关性(P> 0.05),且BC基因型个体的体重和胸围均显著大于其他3种基因型(P< 0.05)。暗示BC基因型是提高郏县红牛生长性状的有利基因型,AQP7基因内含子4的遗传多态性与郏县红牛的生长性状存在相关,因此可作为该品种生长性状分子标记辅助选择的候选基因。     

Association Analysis on Polymorphisms of AQP7 Gene Intron 4 with Growth Traits in Jiaxian Cattle

The objectives were to research the genetic variations in intron 4 of AQP7 gene in Jiaxian cattle, and analyze the influence of genetic polymorphisms on growth traits.PCR-SSCP technique, DNA sequence analysis and bioinformatics were used to analyze the association between the polymorphisms of the intron 4 of AQP7 gene and growth traits in Jiaxian cattle.The results showed that there were three alleles A, B, C in this locus with the corresponding frequencies of 0.838, 0.076 and 0.086;The polymorphisms of the intron 4 of AQP7 gene had significant association with body weight and chest circumference (P< 0.05), while had no significant association with other growth traits (P> 0.05).The individuals with BC genotype was significantly higher than those of individuals with other genotypes in body weight and chest circumference (P< 0.05).It suggested that BC genotype had positive effect on growth traits, and the correlation was detected between the polymorphisms of the intron 4 of AQP7 gene and growth traits in Jiaxian cattle.So AQP7 gene could be used as a candidate gene for molecular marker assisted selection of growth traits in Jiaxian cattle.     

Association Analysis Between Polymorphism of IGF1 Gene and Growth Traits in Rabbit

This study was aimed to analyze the association of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene polymorphisms with growth traits in rabbit. The technology of DNA pooling, PCR-SSCP and direct sequencing were used to detect the SNP of IGF1 gene. The results showed that T365C was detected in IGF1 gene exon 3 of rabbit. The SNP (C/T) was devised into three genotypes:TT, TC and CC. The relationships between genotypes and growth traits revealed that the birth weight and the weight at 28 days of age in New Zealand rabbit of TT genotype of T365C locus were significantly higher than TC and CC genotypes (P<0.05), the birth weight, the weight at 90 days of age and average daily gain form birth to 90 days of age in Belgian rabbit of TT genotype of T365C locus were significantly higher than TC and CC genotypes (P<0.05), there were no significant difference of the growth traits in other rabbit breeds (P>0.05).The consequence indicated that IGF1 gene was primarily deduced to be a potential major gene or linked to major gene effecting the growth traits of rabbit, and this SNP (T365C) might be a candidate molecular genetic markers to improve the growth traits of rabbit.     

延边黄牛MYH3和MYH8基因多态性及其与生长性状的关联分析

本研究旨在探索延边黄牛肌球蛋白重链3（MYH3）和肌球蛋白重链8（MYH8）基因多态性及其与生长性状的关联性,应用DNA直接测序法和高分辨率熔解曲线分型技术对120头24月龄延边黄牛MYH3、MYH8基因的遗传变异进行分析,并结合延边黄牛生长性状数据进行了关联分析。结果显示,在MYH3基因的29602748位点检测到一处T>G突变,包含2个等位基因：T和G,存在3种基因型：TG、TT和GG;在MYH8基因的29406042位点检测到一处C>T突变,包含2个等位基因：C和T,存在3种基因型：CT、CC和TT。关联分析显示,MYH3基因29602748位点T>G突变显著影响24月龄延边黄牛十字部高和腰角宽,表现为GG基因型十字部高显著高于TT基因型（P<0.05）,腰角宽显著高于TT和TG基因型（P<0.05）。MYH8基因29406042位点C>T突变显著影响24月龄延边黄牛体重和胸围,表现为CT和TT基因型体重显著高于CC基因型（P<0.05）;TT基因型胸围显著高于CC基因型（P<0.05）。本研究结果表明,MYH3、MYH8基因多态性与延边黄牛的部分生长性状相关,可作为现代肉牛育种中分子标记辅助选择的候选基因。     

牛GHR10基因HindⅢ酶切多态性与体尺、体重指标的相关性分析

采用PCR-RFLP技术检测生长激素受体基因外显子10(GHR10)730 bp在南阳牛、利木赞、盖洛威中的单核苷酸多态性,同时分析不同基因型与3个品种体尺、体重指标的关系.结果表明,GHR10基因的730 bp突变(A/G)对体尺、体重等12个指标并无显著影响.     

PLIN2基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达规律及基因多态性与肉质性状的关联分析

试验旨在研究围脂滴蛋白2（PLIN2）基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达情况及基因多态性与肉质性状的关联分析。采用实时荧光定量PCR检测PLIN2基因mRNA在不同月龄（6~60月龄）秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达情况;选取18~24月龄的健康秦川肉牛536头,采集血样并测定肉质性状指标,研究PLIN2基因单核苷酸多态性（SNP）和氨基酸突变,并与秦川肉牛肉质性状进行关联分析。结果发现,PLIN2基因在秦川肉牛皮下脂肪组织中的表达量呈先上升后下降趋势,18月龄时表达量最高。测序共发现9个SNPs位点,其中g.C7919>T位点不同基因型肌内脂肪含量差异显著（P<0.05）,CT基因型显著高于TT和CC基因型;g.C7933>T位点不同基因型背膘厚及肌内脂肪含量均呈显著差异（P<0.05）,CC和CT基因型个体背膘厚显著高于TT基因型,CT基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于TT和CC基因型;g.G8015>C位点CC基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于GG和GC基因型（P<0.05）;3'UTR区域g.T8496>C位点TC基因型个体肌内脂肪含量显著高于CC和TT基因型（P<0.05）;g.C8578>T位点TT基因型个体背膘厚显著高于CT和CC基因型（P<0.05）。综上,PLIN2基因对秦川肉牛肉质性状发育有一定影响,可作为秦川肉牛现代分子选育的候选参考基因。     

UCP2基因遗传多态性与西门塔尔牛生长相关性状的遗传效应分析

本研究旨在分析UCP2基因SNPs及其单倍型与肉牛饲料转化率和体尺等生长相关性状的相关性。以118头西门塔尔牛为试验材料,利用DNA池和PCR-RFLP方法检测UCP2基因G118A、C161T、C215G、C305T位点多态性,构建单倍型并与生长性状进行相关分析。结果表明,G118A、C161T和C305T位点均与饲料转化率显著相关(P<0.05),其中杂合个体均值显著高于纯合个体且料肉比较高,而纯合个体之间差异不显著。位点C161T和C305T对胸围和腹围发挥主要影响作用,在差异显著表型性状中,TT基因型显著大于CC基因型个体。所构建的单倍型与单个SNP分析结果较为一致。综合考虑饲料转化率、平均日增体质量、胸围和腹围,建议将C161T和C305T位点的纯合个体TT基因型作为提高肉牛生长性状的候选分子标记。     

牛GHR10基因Hind Ⅲ酶切多态性与体尺、体重指标的相关性分析

采用PCR-RFLP技术检测生长激素受体基因外显子10 (GHR10) 730 bp在南阳牛、利木赞、盖洛威中的单核苷酸多态性,同时分析不同基因型与3个品种体尺、体重指标的关系。结果表明,GHR10基因的730 bp突变（A/G）对体尺、体重等12个指标并无显著影响。     

Apo-AI基因多态性与鸡生长和体组成性状的相关研究

以明星肉鸡和丝毛乌骨鸡杂交产生的F2资源群体为试验材料，根据鸡载脂蛋白AI（Apo-AI）基因的5’端序列设计引物，采用测序和PCR—SSCP方法进行SNP检测和基因型分析，探讨Apo-AI基因多态性与鸡生长和体组成性状之间的关系。研究发现在Apo-AI基因序列起始密码子ATG上游163bp处存在一个A／T突变。该突变产生的不同基因型与鸡生长和体组成性状进行的统计分析结果表明，BB基因型个体的1、2周龄体质量显著高于AA和AB基因型个体的相应体质量（P〈0．05）；BB基因型个体腹脂质量显著高于AA基因型个体的腹脂质量（P〈0．05）；BB和AB基因型个体的腹脂率显著高：于AA基因型个体的腹脂率（P〈0．05）。可以尝试将Apo-AI基因应用于鸡生长和腹脂性状的分子标记辅助选择育种方案中。     

撒坝猪胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ基因多态性及其与部分生长性状的关联分析

胰岛素样生长因子-Ⅰ(insulin-like growth factor-Ⅰ,IGF-Ⅰ)基因的表达产物对猪肌肉的生长有着重要的调控作用。以IGF-Ⅰ基因作为撒坝猪生长性状的候选基因,运用PCR-RFLP技术对其HhaⅠ位点的多态性进行了检测,并对IGF-Ⅰ基因的多态性与12个阶段体重、日增重和体尺性状的关系进行了分析。结果表明,撒坝猪IGF-Ⅰ基因的多态性较为丰富,产生AA、AB和BB 3种基因型,其基因型频率分别是0.3473、0.5149、0.1378,等位基因A和B的频率分别是0.6048、0.3952,且该基因座位处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态,撒坝猪IGF-Ⅰ基因的遗传变异对其生长性状有着显著的影响(P<0.05或P<0.01),其中,不同阶段体重和日增重的增效基因型为AB基因型,180日龄体尺性状的增效基因型多为BB基因型(部分性状表现为AB基因型最高)。结合前人的研究,初步推断IGF-Ⅰ基因可能是影响猪生长性状的一个主效基因或是一个与影响猪生长性状的数量性状座位(quantiative trait locus, QTL)连锁的基因。