Transcriptome Analysis Identifies Candidate Genes and Pathways Associated With Feed Efficiency in Hu Sheep

Frontiers in Genetics

Yuan Zhao¹  Deyin Zhang¹  Xiaolong Li¹  Yongfu La¹  Chong Li¹  Yukun Zhang¹  Weimin Wang¹  Futao Mo¹  Guoze Li¹  Qizhi Song¹  Xiaoxue Zhang²  Fadi Li³ 

[1] College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, China;Engineering Laboratory of Sheep Breeding and Reproduction Biotechnology in Gansu Province, Minqin Zhongtian Sheep Industry Co. Ltd., Minqin, China;The State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China;

关键词: sheep;    feed efficiency;    residual feed intake;    differentially expressed gene;    single nucleotide polymorphism;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fgene.2019.01183

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In the genetic improvement of livestock and poultry, residual feed intake (RFI) is an important economic trait. However, in sheep, the genetic regulatory mechanisms of RFI are unclear. In the present study, we measured the feed efficiency (FE)-related phenotypes of 137 male Hu lambs, and selected six lambs with very high (n = 3) and very low (n = 3) RFI values and analyzed their liver transcriptomes. A total of 101 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 40 were upregulated and 61 were downregulated in the low-RFI group compared with that in the high-RFI group. The downregulated genes were mainly concentrated in immune function pathways, while the upregulated genes were mainly involved in energy metabolism pathways. Two differentially expressed genes, ADRA2A (encoding adrenoceptor alpha 2A) and RYR2 (ryanodine receptor 2), were selected as candidate genes for FE and subjected to single nucleotide polymorphism scanning and association analysis. Two synonymous mutations, ADRA2A g.1429 C > A and RYR2 g.1117 A > C, were detected, which were both significantly associated with the feed conversion rate. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating FE, and reveal key genes and genetic variants that could be used to genetically improve FE in sheep.

【 授权许可】

Unknown