Whole-Genome Selective Scans Detect Genes Associated With Important Phenotypic Traits in Sheep (Ovis aries).
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Xu SS
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8637624 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Maximizing the number of offspring born per female is a key functionality trait in commercial- and/or subsistence-oriented livestock enterprises. Although the number of offspring born is closely associated with female fertility and reproductive success, the genetic control of these traits remains poorly understood in sub-Saharan Africa livestock. Using selection signature analysis performed on Ovine HD BeadChip data from the prolific Bonga sheep in Ethiopia, 41 candidate regions under selection were identified. The analysis revealed one strong selection signature on a candidate region on chromosome X spanning BMP15, suggesting this to be the primary candidate prolificacy gene in the breed. The analysis also identified several candidate regions spanning genes not reported before in prolific sheep but underlying fertility and reproduction in other species. The genes associated with female reproduction traits included SPOCK1 (age at first oestrus), GPR173 (mediator of ovarian cyclicity), HB-EGF (signalling early pregnancy success) and SMARCAL1 and HMGN3a (regulate gene expression during embryogenesis). The genes involved in male reproduction were FOXJ1 (sperm function and successful fertilization) and NME5 (spermatogenesis). We also observed genes such as PKD2L2, MAGED1 and KDM3B, which have been associated with diverse fertility traits in both sexes of other species. The results confirm the complexity of the genetic mechanisms underlying reproduction while suggesting that prolificacy in the Bonga sheep, and possibly African indigenous sheep is partly under the control of BMP15 while other genes that enhance male and female fertility are essential for reproductive fitness.
| S-EPMC6884434 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The growth and development of embryonic skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in sheep muscle mass. But proteomic analyses for embryonic skeletal development in sheep had been little involved in the past research. In this study, we explored differential abundance proteins during embryonic skeletal muscle development by the tandem mass tags (TMT) and performed a protein profile analyses in the longissimus dorsi of Chinese merino sheep at embryonic ages Day85 (D85N), Day105 (D105N) and Day135 (D135N). 5,520 proteins in sheep embryonic skeletal muscle were identified, and 1,316 of them were differential abundance (fold change ≥1.5 and p-value < 0.05). After the KEGG enrichment analyses, these differential abundance proteins were significant enriched in the protein binding, muscle contraction and energy metabolism pathways. After validation of the protein quantification with the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM), 41% (16/39) significant abundance proteins were validated, which was similar to the results of protein quantification with TMT. All results indicated that D85N to D105N was the stage of embryonic muscle fibers proliferation, while D105N to D135N was the stage of their hypertrophy. These findings provided a deeper understanding of the function and rules of proteins in different phases of sheep embryonic skeletal muscle growth and development.
| S-EPMC7000794 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BACKGROUND:Sarcocystis species are intracellular protozoan parasites that can pose a threat to animal health and food safety. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of infection with Sarcocystis infection in sheep from China. RESULTS:In total, 52.51% (335/638) of tissue samples from domestic sheep contained sarcocysts through examination by light microscopy. The organisms were identified as S. tenella and S. arieticanis by molecular assays. Macroscopic S. gigantea and S. medusiformis were not found. The average sarcocysts loading was 18.07?±?29.87 per square centimeter in the myocardium of domestic sheep. Furthermore, two specimens of argali (Ovis ammon) were examined and sarcocysts were found in the myocardium of one animal. According to the sequence of the cox1 gene of sarcocysts from argali, it was speculated as S. tenella. CONCLUSIONS:We found a high prevalence and parasite load of Sarcocystis in sheep from both central and northwest China. This report is the first to indicate that argali may be a natural intermediate host for S. tenella.
| S-EPMC6276146 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The highly prolific breeds of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are globally valuable genetic resources for sheep industry. Genetic, nutritional and other environmental factors affect prolificacy traits in sheep. To improve our knowledge of the sheep prolificacy traits, we conducted mRNA-miRNA integrated profiling of ovarian tissues from two pure breeds with large (Finnsheep) vs. small (Texel) litter sizes and their F1 crosses, half of which were fed a flushing diet.Among the samples, 16,402 genes (60.6% known ovine genes) were expressed, 79 novel miRNAs were found, and a cluster of miRNAs on chromosome 18 was detected. The majority of the differentially expressed genes between breeds were upregulated in the Texel with low prolificacy, owing to the flushing diet effect, whereas a similar pattern was not detected in the Finnsheep. F1 ewes responded similarly to Finnsheep rather than displaying a performance intermediate between the two pure breeds.The identification and characterization of differentially expressed genes and miRNAs in the ovaries of sheep provided insights into genetic and environmental factors affecting prolificacy traits. The three genes (CST6, MEPE and HBB) that were differentially expressed between the group of Finnsheep and Texel ewes kept in normal diet appeared to be candidate genes of prolificacy traits and will require further validation.
| S-EPMC5789708 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Heat stress proteins assist cellular proteins in the acquisition of native structure. The present research was conducted to study how thermo-tolerance is modulated by HSP90 and HSP70 gene polymorphism and its association with hemato-physio-biochemical parameters, supported by their expression profiles in Chokla, Magra, Marwari, and Madras Red sheep breeds. Least square analysis revealed significant effect (P < 0.05) of season and breed on all the physiological parameters, i.e., temperature, respiratory rate, and pulse rate (a.m. and p.m.), as well as hematological parameters like Hb, packed cell volume, total erythrocyte count (TEC), neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) ratio, and total leukocyte count (TLC). There was a significant influence (P < 0.05) of breed on biochemical parameters such as glucose, SGOT, phosphorous, triglyceride, and cholesterol. Eight fragments were amplified and sequenced in HSP90, and 70 genes and 13 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR, PCR-RFLP, and allele-specific PCR genotyping protocols were developed for large-scale genotyping of five SNPs. A significant difference (P < 0.05) of rectal temperature (a.m.), respiratory rate (p.m.), triglyceride, and total protein was observed at SNP01; albumin at SNP2; pulse rate (p.m.) at SNP3; and rectal temperature (p.m.), pulse rate (p.m.), Hb (g/dL), and N/L ratio at SNP4 and TLC at SNP5. Gene expression analysis revealed higher expression in less adapted animals with Madras Red < Magra < Chokla < Marwari expression pattern [corrected]. Predominant allele was found to be superior in most of the SNPs (SNP1-4) indicating the selection acting in directional manner (positive selection). Finally, it is concluded that TACCA haplotype combination of SNP1-SNP2-SNP3-SNP4-SNP5 might be of some selection advantage for the identification of animals more adaptable to heat stress.
| S-EPMC5573686 | biostudies-literature
Project description:MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are small regulatory RNAs crucial for modulation of signaling pathways in multiple organs. While the link between miRNAs and heart disease has grown more readily apparent over the past three years, these data are primarily limited to small animal models or cell-based systems. Here, we performed a high-throughput RNA sequencing (RNAseq) analysis of left ventricle and other tissue from a pre-clinical ovine model. We identified 172 novel miRNA precursors encoding a total of 264 mature miRNAs. Notably, 84 precursors were detected in both the left ventricle and other tissues. However, 10 precursors, encoding 11 mature sequences, were specific to the left ventricle. Moreover, the total 168 novel miRNA precursors included 22 non-conserved ovine-specific sequences. Our data identify and characterize novel miRNAs in the left ventricle of sheep, providing fundamental new information for our understanding of protein regulation in heart and other tissues.
| S-EPMC4657999 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundSheep (Ovis aries) were domesticated in the Fertile Crescent region about 9,000-8,000 years ago. Currently, few mitochondrial (mt) DNA studies are available on archaeological sheep. In particular, no data on archaeological European sheep are available.Methodology/principal findingsHere we describe the first portion of mtDNA sequence of a Copper Age European sheep. DNA was extracted from hair shafts which were part of the clothes of the so-called Tyrolean Iceman or Ötzi (5,350-5,100 years before present). Mitochondrial DNA (a total of 2,429 base pairs, encompassing a portion of the control region, tRNA(Phe), a portion of the 12S rRNA gene, and the whole cytochrome B gene) was sequenced using a mixed sequencing procedure based on PCR amplification and 454 sequencing of pooled amplification products. We have compared the sequence with the corresponding sequence of 334 extant lineages.Conclusions/significanceA phylogenetic network based on a new cladistic notation for the mitochondrial diversity of domestic sheep shows that the Ötzi's sheep falls within haplogroup B, thus demonstrating that sheep belonging to this haplogroup were already present in the Alps more than 5,000 years ago. On the other hand, the lineage of the Ötzi's sheep is defined by two transitions (16147, and 16440) which, assembled together, define a motif that has not yet been identified in modern sheep populations.
| S-EPMC3311544 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Ovine litter size (LS) is an important trait showing variability within breeds. It remains largely unknown whether inbreeding depression on LS exists based on genomic homozygous regions, and whether the homozygous regions resulted from inbreeding are significantly associated with LS in sheep. We here reanalyze a set of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip of six breeds to characterize the patterns of runs of homozygosity (ROH), to evaluate inbreeding levels and inbreeding depressions on LS, and to identify candidate homozygous regions responsible for LS. Consequently, unique ROH patterns were observed among six sheep populations. Inbreeding depression on LS was only found in Hu sheep, where a significant reduction of 0.016, 0.02, and 0.02 per 1% elevated inbreeding FROH4-8, FROH>8 and the total inbreeding measure was observed, respectively. Nine significantly homozygous regions were found for LS in Hu sheep, where some promising genes for LS possibly via regulation of the development of oocytes (NGF, AKT1, and SYCP1), fertilization (SPAG17, MORC1, TDRD9, ZFYVE21, ADGRB3, and CKB), embryo implantation (PPP1R13B, INF2, and VANGL1) and development (DPPA2, DPPA4, CDCA4, CSDE1, and ADSSL1), and reproductive health (NRG3, BAG5, CKB, and XRCC3) were identified. These results from the present study would provide insights into the genetic management and complementary understandings of LS in sheep.
| S-EPMC7831309 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been an economically and culturally important farm animal species since its domestication around the world. A wide array of sheep breeds with abundant phenotypic diversity exists including domestication and selection as well as the indigenous breeds may harbor specific features as a result of adaptation to their environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the population structure of indigenous sheep in a large geographic location of the Chinese mainland. Six microsatellites were genotyped for 611 individuals from 14 populations. The mean number of alleles (±SD) ranged from 7.00 ± 3.69 in Gangba sheep to 10.50 ± 4.23 in Tibetan sheep. The observed heterozygote frequency (±SD) within a population ranged from 0.58 ± 0.03 in Gangba sheep to 0.71 ± 0.03 in Zazakh sheep and Minxian black fur sheep. In addition, there was a low pairwise difference among the Minxian black fur sheep, Mongolian sheep, Gansu alpine merino, and Lanzhou fat-tailed sheep. Bayesian analysis with the program STRUCTURE showed support for 3 clusters, revealing a vague genetic clustering pattern with geographic location. The results of the current study inferred high genetic diversity within these native sheep in the Chinese mainland.
| S-EPMC4739567 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The diverse functions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which execute their functions mainly through modulating the activities of their target genes, have been have been widely studied for many years (including a number of studies involving lncRNAs in the ovary and uterus). Herein, for the first time, we detect lncRNAs in sheep hypothalami with FecB++ through RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) and identify a number of known and novel lncRNAs, with 622 and 809 found to be differentially expressed in polytocous sheep in the follicular phase (PF) vs. monotocous sheep in the follicular phase (MF) and polytocous sheep in the luteal phase (PL) vs. monotocous sheep in the luteal phase (ML), respectively. Then, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed based on the predicted target genes. The most highly enriched GO terms (at the molecular function level) included carbonyl reductase (NADPH), 15-hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase (NADP+), and prostaglandin-E2 9-reductase activity in PF vs. MF, and phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate binding in PL vs. ML was associated with sheep fecundity. Interestingly, the phenomena of valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation in PL vs. ML, and valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis in PF vs. MF, were present. In addition, the interactome of lncRNA and its targets showed that MSTRG.26777 and its cis-targets ENSOARG00000013744, ENSOARG00000013700, and ENSOARG00000013777, and MSTRG.105228 and its target WNT7A may participate in the sheep reproductive process at the hypothalamus level. Significantly, MSTRG.95128 and its cis-target Forkhead box L1 (FOXG1) were shown to be upregulated in PF vs. MF but downregulated in PL vs. ML. All of these results may be attributed to discoveries of new candidate genes and pathways related to sheep reproduction, and they may provide new views for understanding sheep reproduction without the effects of the FecB mutation.
| S-EPMC6523726 | biostudies-literature