Buzanskas Marcos E, Grossi Daniela A, Ventura Ricardo V, Schenkel Flávio S, Sargolzaei Mehdi, Meirelles Sarah L C, Mokry Fabiana B, Higa Roberto H, Mudadu Maurício A, da Silva Marcos V G Barbosa, Niciura Simone C M, Torres Roberto A A, Alencar Maurício M, Regitano Luciana C A, Munari Danísio P
Departamento de Ciências Exatas, UNESP - Univ Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Jaboticabal, São Paulo, Brazil.
Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Centre for Genetic Improvement of Livestock (CGIL), Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
PLoS One. 2014 Apr 14;9(4):e94802. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094802. eCollection 2014.
Studies are being conducted on the applicability of genomic data to improve the accuracy of the selection process in livestock, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide valuable information to enhance the understanding on the genetics of complex traits. The aim of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes that play roles in birth weight (BW), weaning weight adjusted for 210 days of age (WW), and long-yearling weight adjusted for 420 days of age (LYW) in Canchim cattle. GWAS were performed by means of the Generalized Quasi-Likelihood Score (GQLS) method using genotypes from the BovineHD BeadChip and estimated breeding values for BW, WW, and LYW. Data consisted of 285 animals from the Canchim breed and 114 from the MA genetic group (derived from crossings between Charolais sires and ½ Canchim + ½ Zebu dams). After applying a false discovery rate correction at a 10% significance level, a total of 4, 12, and 10 SNPs were significantly associated with BW, WW, and LYW, respectively. These SNPs were surveyed to their corresponding genes or to surrounding genes within a distance of 250 kb. The genes DPP6 (dipeptidyl-peptidase 6) and CLEC3B (C-type lectin domain family 3 member B) were highlighted, considering its functions on the development of the brain and skeletal system, respectively. The GQLS method identified regions on chromosome associated with birth weight, weaning weight, and long-yearling weight in Canchim and MA animals. New candidate regions for body weight traits were detected and some of them have interesting biological functions, of which most have not been previously reported. The observation of QTL reports for body weight traits, covering areas surrounding the genes (SNPs) herein identified provides more evidence for these associations. Future studies targeting these areas could provide further knowledge to uncover the genetic architecture underlying growth traits in Canchim cattle.
正在开展关于基因组数据在提高家畜选择过程准确性方面适用性的研究，全基因组关联研究（GWAS）为增进对复杂性状遗传学的理解提供了有价值的信息。本研究的目的是在坎辛牛中鉴定与出生体重（BW）、210日龄校正断奶体重（WW）和420日龄校正周岁体重（LYW）相关的基因组区域和基因。使用来自牛HD基因分型芯片的基因型以及BW、WW和LYW的估计育种值，通过广义拟似然评分（GQLS）方法进行GWAS。数据包括285头坎辛品种的动物和114头MA遗传组的动物（由夏洛莱公牛与1/2坎辛 + 1/2瘤牛母本杂交产生）。在10%显著水平进行错误发现率校正后，分别有4个、12个和10个单核苷酸多态性（SNP）与BW、WW和LYW显著相关。对这些SNP在其对应的基因或距离250 kb内的周围基因进行了研究。考虑到基因DPP6（二肽基肽酶6）和CLEC3B（C型凝集素结构域家族3成员B）分别对大脑和骨骼系统发育的作用，它们受到了关注。GQLS方法鉴定出了坎辛和MA动物中与出生体重、断奶体重和周岁体重相关的染色体区域。检测到了体重性状的新候选区域，其中一些具有有趣的生物学功能，且大多数此前未被报道。对体重性状的数量性状位点（QTL）报告的观察，涵盖了本文鉴定的基因（SNP）周围区域，为这些关联提供了更多证据。针对这些区域的未来研究可能会提供进一步的知识，以揭示坎辛牛生长性状的遗传结构。
