Discovering of Genomic Variations Associated to Growth Traits by GWAS in Braunvieh Cattle.
José Luis Zepeda-Batista, Rafael Núñez-Domínguez, Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde, Francisco Joel Jahuey-Martínez, Jessica Beatriz Herrera-Ojeda, Gaspar Manuel Parra-Bracamonte
Author Information
José Luis Zepeda-Batista: Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad de Colima, Kilometro 40 Autopista Colima-Manzanillo, Tecomán 28100, Colima, Mexico. ORCID
Rafael Núñez-Domínguez: Departamento de Zootecnia, Posgrado en Producción Animal, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Km. 38.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Chapingo 56230, Texcoco, Mexico. ORCID
Rodolfo Ramírez-Valverde: Departamento de Zootecnia, Posgrado en Producción Animal, Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Km. 38.5 Carretera México-Texcoco, Chapingo 56230, Texcoco, Mexico.
Francisco Joel Jahuey-Martínez: Facultad de Zootecnia y Ecologa, Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, Periférico Francisco R. Almada, Km 1, Chihuahua 33820, Chihuahua, Mexico.
Jessica Beatriz Herrera-Ojeda: Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Instituto Tecnológico del Valle de Morelia, Instituto Tecnológico Nacional, Morelia 58100, Michoacán, Mexico.
Gaspar Manuel Parra-Bracamonte: Centro de Biotecnología Genómica, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Boulevard del Maestro S/N esq. Elías Piña, Col. Narciso Mendoza, Ciudad Reynosa 88710, Tamaulipas, Mexico. ORCID
A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to elucidate genetic architecture of growth traits in Braunvieh cattle. Methods: The study included 300 genotyped animals by the GeneSeek Genomic Profiler Bovine LDv.4 panel; after quality control, 22,734 SNP and 276 animals were maintained in the analysis. The examined phenotypic data considered birth (BW), weaning (WW), and yearling weights. The association analysis was performed using the principal components method via the egscore function of the GenABEL version 1.8-0 package in the R environment. The marker rs133262280 located in BTA 22 was associated with BW, and two SNPs were associated with WW, rs43668789 (BTA 11) and rs136155567 (BTA 27). New QTL associated with these liveweight traits and four positional and functional candidate genes potentially involved in variations of the analyzed traits were identified. The most important genes in these genomic regions were (minichromosome maintenance complex component 2), (transmembrane protein adipocyte associated 1), (), and (neuregulin 1), related to embryonic cleavage, bone and tissue growth, cell adhesion, and organic development. This study is the first to present a GWAS conducted in Braunvieh cattle in Mexico providing evidence for genetic architecture of assessed growth traits. Further specific analysis of found associated genes and regions will clarify its contribution to the genetic basis of growth-related traits.
