Acta Veterinaria et Zootechnica Sinica ›› 2024, Vol. 55 ›› Issue (12): 5511-5526.doi: 10.11843/j.issn.0366-6964.2024.12.017

• Animal Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Genome-wide Selective Signal Identification and Association Analysis of Candidate Genes for Tibetan Sheep Wool Traits

QI Junying1(), PEI Quanbang1, ZHANG Wenkui1, XU Teng1, ZUO Mingxing1, HAN Buying2, LI Xue2, LIU Dehui2, WANG Song2, ZHOU Baicheng3, ZHAO Kai2, TIAN Dehong2,*()   

  1. 1. Qinghai Sheep Breeding and Promotion Service Center, Gangcha 812300, China
    2. Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining 810008, China
    3. Qinghai Provincial Animal Husbandry Station, Xining 810000, China
  • Received:2024-05-28 Online:2024-12-23 Published:2024-12-27
  • Contact: TIAN Dehong E-mail:13639787053@163.com;tiandehong@nwipb.cas.cn

Abstract:

The objective of this study was to identify novel molecular markers and candidate genes associated with wool traits in plateau Tibetan sheep through a combination of genome-wide selected region signal detection, single nucleotide polymorphism analysis, and trait association analysis. In this study, ear tissue and wool samples were collected from 208 healthy ewes aged 3-4 years old, including 119 plateau-type ewes and 89 Euler-type ewes. Population genetic differentiation index (Fst) and base diversity ratio (Pi Ratio) were employed for genome-wide selective clearance analysis. Candidate genes were identified through functional annotation, followed by GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Furthermore, correlation analysis between single nucleotide polymorphisms and phenotypic data was conducted using exon Sanger sequencing on a subset of 108 Tibetan plateau sheep to identify functional loci related to wool traits. The results revealed that a total of 1 084 selected regions with annotations for 1 037 candidate genes. Through functional gene annotation and literature analysis, 7 potential candidate genes related to wool traits were identified: GHR, FGFR3, MC1R, MITF, FGF5, WNT2B, and WNT5A. Notably, FGF5 (exon6:c.954C/T: p227P/P) synonymous mutation site and FGFR3 (exon6: c1092C/T: p364A/A) synonym mutation sites were found to be associated with wool fiber performance without deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.These two genes may serve as important candidate genes for the improvement of wool traits in plateau Tibetan sheep.This study provides valuable insights into the genetic basis underlying the production of wool traits in plateau Tibetan sheep.It also offers guidance for molecular breeding techniques specific to this breed while providing a scientific foundation for the conservation and utilization of local germplasm resources.

Key words: Tibetan sheep, genome-wide selection signal, wool traits, association analysis

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