Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal and Technology (Institute of Animal Genetics and Breeding), Sichuan Agricultural University, P. R. China; Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, P. R. China; College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, P. R. China.
Berry Genomics Corporation, Beijing 100015, P. R. China.
Poult Sci. 2023 Jan;102(1):102243. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102243. Epub 2022 Oct 13.
The feather is an important epidermal appendage, plays an important role in the life activities of avian specie, and has important economic value. Revealing the molecular regulation mechanism of feather growth has a significant meaning in studying adaptive evolution, physiology, and mating of avian species and also provides a theoretical reference for poultry breeding. In this study, the genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) of 358 ducks was based on primary feather length phenotypic data (28-60 d), length growth rates (LGRs), and maturity scores (60 d) to explore the genetic basis affecting feather growth and maturation. The results showed that, among the primary feather 1 to 5 in ducks, the mean LGR of primary feather 2 was the fastest, with the longest length. The primary feathers in males grew and matured slightly faster than in females. The mean maturity scores of primary feather 10∼7 were higher than primary feather 1 to 3 in ducks. GWAS further showed 116 SNPs associated with feather length traits. In addition, 2 candidate regions (Chr1: 127,407,230-127,524,879 bp and Chr21: 182,061,707-183,616,298 bp) were associated with LGR, which contain total 13 candidate genes (The extremely significant SNPs were mainly located in 2 genes: Chr1: REPS2 and Chr21: PTPRT). Four candidate regions (Chr1: 29,113,036-28,675,018 bp, Chr2: 18,253,612-149,111,290 bp, Chr15: 6,489,774 to 12,138,221 bp and Chr21: 6,578,021-8,472,904 bp) were associated with feather maturity, which contain total 24 candidate genes (The extremely significant SNPs were mainly located in 4 genes: Chr1: IMMP2L, DOCK4 and DDX10, Chr2: LDLRAD4). In conclusion, sex factors influence feather growth and maturity, and the genetic basis of the growth /maturity trait between different feathers is similar. REPS2, PTPRT genes, and IMMP2L, DOCK4, DDX10, and LDLRAD4 are important candidate genes that influence feather growth and maturity, respectively.
羽毛是一种重要的表皮附属物，在禽类的生命活动中起着重要作用，具有重要的经济价值。揭示羽毛生长的分子调控机制对研究禽类的适应性进化、生理和交配具有重要意义，也为家禽养殖提供了理论参考。本研究基于 358 只鸭子的初级羽毛长度表型数据（28-60d）、长度增长率（LGRs）和成熟评分（60d），进行了全基因组关联分析（GWAS），探讨了影响羽毛生长和成熟的遗传基础。结果表明，在鸭子的第 1 至 5 根初级羽毛中，第 2 根初级羽毛的平均 LGR 最快，长度最长。雄性鸭子的初级羽毛生长和成熟速度略快于雌性。鸭子的第 10∼7 根初级羽毛的成熟评分高于第 1 至 3 根初级羽毛。GWAS 进一步显示了 116 个与羽毛长度性状相关的 SNPs。此外，有 2 个候选区域（Chr1：127,407,230-127,524,879 bp 和 Chr21：182,061,707-183,616,298 bp）与 LGR 相关，其中包含 13 个候选基因（极显著 SNPs 主要位于 2 个基因：Chr1：REPS2 和 Chr21：PTPRT）。有 4 个候选区域（Chr1：29,113,036-28,675,018 bp、Chr2：18,253,612-149,111,290 bp、Chr15：6,489,774 到 12,138,221 bp 和 Chr21：6,578,021-8,472,904 bp）与羽毛成熟度相关，其中包含 24 个候选基因（极显著 SNPs 主要位于 4 个基因：Chr1：IMMP2L、DOCK4 和 DDX10、Chr2：LDLRAD4）。总之，性别因素影响羽毛的生长和成熟，不同羽毛的生长/成熟性状的遗传基础相似。REPS2、PTPRT 基因和 IMMP2L、DOCK4、DDX10、LDLRAD4 分别是影响羽毛生长和成熟的重要候选基因。
