Relationship between the and the gene copy number variation and growth traits in different cattle breeds.

Copy number variations (CNV) are important genetic variations. The endogenous factors cobalamin receptor () and MIA SH3 domain ER-derived factor 3 () are associated with bone/muscle development and intramuscular fat deposition. There have been no reports on the effects of and CNVs on growth traits of Chinese cattle. This study aimed to determine the correlation between the and CNVs and growth traits in Chinese cattle. qRT-PCR was used to detect the distribution of and CNV and the expression levels of their mRNA, and correlation analysis was conducted between CNV and growth traits. The was differentially expressed in different breeds of cattle, and CNV correlated significantly with body height, hip height, body slanting length, and hip width of Grassland Red cattle (CYH); eye muscle area of Yanbian cattle (YB) and Yan Yellow cattle (YH). showed no CNV in CYH and YB cattle, and only one deletion type occurred in YH cattle. and mRNA have different expression patterns in different cattle breeds and tissues. In conclusion, CNV is correlated significantly with growth traits in Chinese cattle and is a novel molecular marker that could be exploited in cattle breeding.