Ovar-DRB1 haplotypes*2001 and*0301 are associated with sheep growth and ewe lifetime prolificacy

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Cinar M. U., Mousel M. R., Herrmann-Hoesing L. M., Taylor J. B., White S. N.

GENE, cilt.595, sa.2, ss.187-192, 2016 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 595 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2016
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.10.004
  • Dergi Adı: GENE
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.187-192
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Major Histocompatibility Complex, MHC class II gene, Association analysis, Sheep, Production traits, Growth, Female reproduction, Lifetime prolificacy, MAJOR HISTOCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX, ENDEMIC LIVESTOCK DISEASES, SCOTTISH BLACKFACE SHEEP, MILK-PRODUCTION TRAITS, SKELETAL-MUSCLE CELLS, FECAL EGG COUNTS, II DRB1 ALLELES, HAPLOTYPE RECONSTRUCTION, GENETIC-PARAMETERS, GREAT-BRITAIN
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an organized cluster of tightly linked vertebrate genes with immunological and non-immunological functions. While the important MHC gene DRB1 has been examined in regard to many sheep infectious disease traits, only one study, based on microsatellite markers, has previously examined DRB1 and sheep production traits. Furthermore, to our knowledge no studies have examined DRB1 relationship with lifetime ewe prolificacy traits. Therefore, we analyzed association between the presence of DRB1 SNP haplotypes with internationally recognized standard names and production traits including growth and lifetime prolificacy in 370 Rambouillet, Columbia, and Polypay sheep.

Background

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an organized cluster of tightly linked vertebrate genes with immunological and non-immunological functions. While the important MHC gene DRB1 has been examined in regard to many sheep infectious disease traits, only one study, based on microsatellite markers, has previously examinedDRB1 and sheep production traits. Furthermore, to our knowledge no studies have examined DRB1 relationship with lifetime ewe prolificacy traits. Therefore, we analyzed association between the presence of DRB1 SNP haplotypes with internationally recognized standard names and production traits including growth and lifetime prolificacy in 370 Rambouillet, Columbia, and Polypay sheep.

Results

The DRB1 *0404 haplotype was associated with increased weaning and mature weights, as well as average daily gain (Šidák P < 0.05; corrected for the number of haplotypes tested). Interestingly, the *0404 haplotype also showed a trend toward association with increased total number of lifetime lambs born (Šidák P = 0.084) and number of lambs born alive (Šidák P = 0.084). In contrast, the DRB1 *0141 haplotype was associated with decreased mature weight (Šidák P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Since the *0404 haplotype was present in all three breeds, these results suggest there is at least one functional mutation in the region that influences growth and prolificacy traits that may be broadly present across several breeds. Furthermore, combined use of the similar *0404 and *0141 multi-marker haplotypes that nonetheless have opposing directions of production trait associations will enhance mutation discovery in this region. If undesirable alleles for underlying mutations can be identified, selective pressure against one or a small number of undesirable alleles may improve production with limited impact on MHC genetic diversity and infectious disease susceptibility.