Correlating single nucleotide polymorphisms in the myostatin gene with performance traits in rabbit

E.M. Abdel-Kafy; S.F. Darwish; D. ElKhishin

doi:10.4995/wrs.2016.4026

Authors

E.M. Abdel-Kafy Animal Production Research Institute,Agricultural Research Center
S.F. Darwish Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center
D. ElKhishin Agricultural Genetic Engineering Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2016.4026

Keywords:

rabbits, myostatin, SNPs, genotype, growth

Abstract

The Myostatin (MSTN), or Growth and Differentiation Factor 8 (GDF8), gene has been implicated in the double muscling phenomenon, in which a series of mutations render the gene inactive and unable to properly regulate muscle fibre deposition. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MSTN gene have been correlated to production traits, making it a candidate target gene to enhance livestock and fowl productivity. This study aimed to assess any association of three SNPs in the rabbit MSTN gene (c.713T>A in exon 2, c.747+34C>T in intron 2, and c.*194A>G in 3’-untranslated region) and their combinations, with carcass, production and reproductive traits. The investigated traits included individual body weight, daily body weight gain, carcass traits and reproductive traits. The 3 SNPs were screened using PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based analysis and the effects of the different SNP genotypes and their combinations were estimated in a rabbit population. Additionally, additive and dominance effects were estimated for significant traits. The results found no significant association between the c.713 T>A SNP and all the examined traits. Allele T at the c.747+34C>T SNP was only significantly associated (P<0.05) with increased body weight at 12 wk of age. However, for the SNP residing in the 3’ untranslated region (c.*194A>G), allele G was significantly associated (P<0.05) with increased body weight and high growth rate. Genotype GG at the c.*194A>G SNP also had positive effects on most carcass traits. The estimated additive genetic effect for the c.*194A>G SNP was significant (P<0.05) with most body weight, daily gain and carcass traits. No significant association was obtained between any MSTN SNPs and reproductive traits. In the combinations analysis, regardless of the genotypes of SNPs at c.713T>A and c.747+34C>T, GG at the c.*194A>G SNP correlated with highest values in body weight and daily weight gain. In conclusion, the ‘G’ allele at the c.*194A>G SNP had positive effects on growth and carcass traits and so could be used as a favourable allele in planning rabbit selection. Further population-wide studies are necessary to test the association of the c.*194A>G SNP with carcass traits. We also recommend evaluation of the potential effects of the c.*194A>G SNP on MSTN gene expression.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

E.M. Abdel-Kafy, Animal Production Research Institute,Agricultural Research Center

Rabbit Breeding Research Department

S.F. Darwish, Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center

Biotechnology Research Unit

References

Bellinge R.H.S. , Liberles D.A., Iaschi S.P.A., O’Brien P.A., Tay G.K. 2005. Myostatin and its implications on animal breeding: a review. Anim. Genet., 36: 1-6.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2004.01229.x

Bindu K.A., Arun R., Siby A., Raghunandanan K.V. 2012. Association of myostatin gene (MSTN) polymorphism with economic traits in rabbits. In Fibre production in South American camelids and other fibre animals (eds MA Pérez-

Cabal, JP Gutiérrez, I Cervantes, MJ Alcalde), pp. 131-133. Wageningen Academic Publishers, Wageningen, The Netherlands. doi:10.3920/978-90-8686-727-1_16

Blasco A., Ouhayoun J., Masoero G. 1993. Harmonization of criteria and terminology in rabbit meat research. World Rabbit Sci., 1: 03-10. doi:10.4995/wrs.1993.189

Clop A., Marcq F., Takeda H., Pirottin D., Tordoir X., Bibe B., Bouix J., Caiment F., Elsen J.M., Eychenne F., Larzul C., Laville E., Meish F., Milenkovic D., Tobin J., Charlier C., Georges M. 2006. A mutation creating a potential illegitimate microRNAs target site in the myostatin gene affects muscularity in sheep. Nat. Genet., 38: 813-818. doi:10.1038/ng1810

Collis E., Fortes M.R.S., Zhang Y., Tier B., Schutt K., Barendse W., Hawken R. 2012. Genetic variants affecting meat and milk production traits appear to have effects on reproduction traits in cattle. Anim. Genet., 43: 442-446.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02272.x

Conne B., Stutz A., Vassalli J.D. 2000. The 3’ untranslated region of messenger RNA: A molecular ‘hotspot’ for pathology?. Nat. Med., 6: 637- 641. doi:10.1038/76211

Cundiff L.V., Thallman R.M., Van Vleck L.D., Bennett G.L., Morris C.A. 2007. Cattle breed evaluation at the U.S. Meat Animal Research Centre and implications for commercial beef farmers. In Proc.: New Zealand Society of Animal Production 67: 9-17.

Cushman R.A., Tait R.G., McNeel Jr. A.K., Forbes E.D., Amundson O.L., Lents C.A., Lindholm-Perry A.K., Perry G.A., Wood J.R., Cupp A.S., Smith T.P.L., Freetly H.C., Bennett G.L. 2015. A polymorphism in myostatin influences puberty but not fertility in beef heifers, whereas μ-calpain affects first calf birth weight. J. Anim. Sci., 93: 117-126. doi:10.2527/jas.2014-8505

Darwish, S.F., Scholkamy T.H., Elmalky O.M. 2013. Impact of leptin gene polymorphism on some milk and growth traits in Egyptian buffaloes. Arab J. Biotech., 16: 131-142.

Fontanesi L., Tazzoli M., Scotti E., Russo V. 2008. Analysis of candidate genes for meat production traits in domestic rabbit breeds. In Proc.: 9th World Rabbit Congress, June 10-13, 2008, Verona, Italy, 79-84.

Fontanesi L., Scotti E., Frabetti A., Fornasini D., Picconi A., Russo V. 2011. Identification of polymorphisms in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) myostatin (MSTN) gene and association analysis with finishing weight in a commercial rabbit population. Anim. Genet., 42: 339.

doi:10.1111/j.1365-2052.2010.02163.x

Han S.H., Cho I.C., Ko M.S., Kim E.Y., Park S.P., Lee S.S., Oh H.S. 2012. A promoter polymorphism of MSTN g.-371T>A and its associations with carcass traits in Korean cattle. Mol. Biol., Rep., 39: 3767-3772. doi:10.1007/s11033-011-1153-z

Knapp J.R., Davie J.K., Myer A., Meadows E., Olson E.N., Klein W.H. 2006. Loss of myogenin in postnatal life leads to normal skeletal muscle but reduced body size. Development, 133: 601-610. doi:10.1242/dev.02249

Koohmaraie M. 1996. Biochemical factors regulating the toughening and tenderization process of meat. Meat Sci., 43: 193-201. doi:10.1016/0309-1740(96)00065-4

Kurkute A.S., Tripathi A.K. , Shabir N., Jawale C.V., Ramani U.V., Pande A.M., Rank D.N. , Joshi C.G. 2011. Molecular cloning and characterization of rabbit myostatin gene. IIOAB J., 2: 1-7.

Lu J., Hou S., Huang W., Yu J., Wang W. 2011. Polymorphisms in the myostatin gene and their association with growth and carcass traits in duck. Afr. J. Biotechnol., 10: 11309-11312.

Maertens L., De-Groote G. 1992. Study of influence of slaughter weight on carcass yield and carcass composition of broiler rabbits. Revue de l’ Agriculture 45: 59-70.

Magee D.A., Sikora K.M., Berkowicz E.W., Berry D.P., Howard D.J., Mullen M.P., Evans R.D., Spillane C., MacHugh D.E. 2010. DNA sequence polymorphisms in a panel of eight candidate bovine imprinted genes and their association with performance traits in Irish Holstein-Friesian cattle. BMC Genet., 11: 93-108. doi:10.1186/1471-2156-11-93

Markowska A., Rafayova A., Trakowicka A. 2010. Detecting presence of c/t polymorphism at position 34 second intron of the myostatin gene in rabbits. Journal of Central European Agriculture 11: 449-452. doi:10.5513/JCEA01/11.4.861

Neilson J.R., Sandberg R. 2010. Heterogeneity in mammalian RNA 3’ end formation. Exp. Cell Res., 316: 1357-1364. doi:10.1016/j.yexcr.2010.02.040

Peng J., Zhang G., Zhang W., Liu Y., Yang Y., Lai S. 2013. Rapid Genotyping of MSTN Gene Polymorphism Using High-resolution Melting for Association Study in Rabbits. Asian-Australas. J. Anim. Sci., 26: 30-35. doi:10.5713%2Fajas.2012.12382

Rafayova A., Lieskovska Z., Trakovicka A., Kovacik A. 2009. Detection of MSTN polymorphism In Rabbit. Zootehnie si Biotehnologii 42: 637-641.

Russo V., Fontanesi L., Scotti E., Beretti F., Davoli R., Nanni Costa L., Virgili R., Buttazzoni L. 2008. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in several porcine cathepsin genes are associated with growth, carcass, and production traits in Italian Large White pigs. J. Anim. Sci., 86: 3300-3314. doi:10.2527/jas.2008-0920

SAS, 1999. SAS user’s guide: Statistical Analysis System Institute, SAS Inst. Inc., Cary NC, USA.

Sauna Z.E., Kimchi-Sarfaty C. 2011. Understanding the contribution of synonymous mutations to human disease. Nat. Rev. Genet., 12: 683-691. doi:10.1038/nrg3051

Sternstein I., Reissmann M., Maj D., Bieniek J., Brockmann G.A. 2014. A new single nucleotide polymorphism in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) myostatin (MSTN) gene is associated with carcass composition traits. Anim. Genet., 45: 596-599. doi:10.1111/age.12165

Youssef Y.K., Iraqi M.M., El-Raffa A.M., Afifi E.A., Khalil M.H., García M.L., Baselga M. 2008. A joint project to synthesize new lines of rabbits in Egypt and Saudi Arabia: emphasis for results and prospects. 9th World Rabbit Congress, June 10-13, 2008, Verona, Italy, 1637- 1641

Zhang C., Liu Y., Xu D., Wen Q., Li X., Zhang W., Yang L. 2012. Polymorphisms of myostatin gene (MSTN) in four goat breeds and their effects on Boer goat growth performance. Mol. Biol. Rep., 39: 3081-3087. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11033-011-1071-0