scholarly journals Integration of a single-step genome-wide association study with a multi-tissue transcriptome analysis provides novel insights into the genetic basis of wool and weight traits in sheep

2021 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bingru Zhao ◽  
Hanpeng Luo ◽  
Xixia Huang ◽  
Chen Wei ◽  
Jiang Di ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Genetic Improvement ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Fibre Diameter ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Six Traits ◽  
Genome Wide

Abstract Background Genetic improvement of wool and growth traits is a major goal in the sheep industry, but their underlying genetic architecture remains elusive. To improve our understanding of these mechanisms, we conducted a weighted single-step genome-wide association study (WssGWAS) and then integrated the results with large-scale transcriptome data for five wool traits and one growth trait in Merino sheep: mean fibre diameter (MFD), coefficient of variation of the fibre diameter (CVFD), crimp number (CN), mean staple length (MSL), greasy fleece weight (GFW), and live weight (LW). Results Our dataset comprised 7135 individuals with phenotype data, among which 1217 had high-density (HD) genotype data (n = 372,534). The genotypes of 707 of these animals were imputed from the Illumina Ovine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 54 BeadChip to the HD Array. The heritability of these traits ranged from 0.05 (CVFD) to 0.36 (MFD), and between-trait genetic correlations ranged from − 0.44 (CN vs. LW) to 0.77 (GFW vs. LW). By integrating the GWAS signals with RNA-seq data from 500 samples (representing 87 tissue types from 16 animals), we detected tissues that were relevant to each of the six traits, e.g. liver, muscle and the gastrointestinal (GI) tract were the most relevant tissues for LW, and leukocytes and macrophages were the most relevant cells for CN. For the six traits, 54 quantitative trait loci (QTL) were identified covering 81 candidate genes on 21 ovine autosomes. Multiple candidate genes showed strong tissue-specific expression, e.g. BNC1 (associated with MFD) and CHRNB1 (LW) were specifically expressed in skin and muscle, respectively. By conducting phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) in humans, we found that orthologues of several of these candidate genes were significantly (FDR < 0.05) associated with similar traits in humans, e.g. BNC1 was significantly associated with MFD in sheep and with hair colour in humans, and CHRNB1 was significantly associated with LW in sheep and with body mass index in humans. Conclusions Our findings provide novel insights into the biological and genetic mechanisms underlying wool and growth traits, and thus will contribute to the genetic improvement and gene mapping of complex traits in sheep.

scholarly journals Weighted Single-Step Genome-Wide Association Study for Growth Traits in Chinese Simmental Beef Cattle

Genes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhanwei Zhuang ◽  
Lingyang Xu ◽  
Jie Yang ◽  
Huijiang Gao ◽  
Lupei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Muscle Development ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Growth Traits ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Meat Production ◽  
Genome Wide

Improving the genetic process of growth traits is one of the major goals in the beef cattle industry, as it can increase meat production and reduce the cost of raising animals. Although several quantitative trait loci affecting growth traits in beef cattle have been identified, the genetic architecture of these economically important traits remains elusive. This study aims to map single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and genes associated with birth weight (BW), yearling weight (YW), average daily gain from birth to yearling (BYADG), and body weight at the age of 18 months (18MW) in a Chinese Simmental beef cattle population using a weighted, single-step, genome-wide association study (wssGWAS). Phenotypic and pedigree data from 6022 animals and genotypes from 744 animals (596,297 SNPs) were used for an association analysis. The results showed that 66 genomic windows explained 1.01–20.15% of the genetic variance for the four examined traits, together with the genes near the top SNP within each window. Furthermore, the identified genomic windows (>1%) explained 50.56%, 57.71%, 61.78%, and 37.82% of the genetic variances for BW, YW, BYADG, and 18MW, respectively. Genes with potential functions in muscle development and regulation of cell growth were highlighted as candidates for growth traits in Simmental cattle (SQOR and TBCB for BW, MYH10 for YW, RLF for BYADG, and ARHGAP31 for 18MW). Moreover, we found 40 SNPs that had not previously been identified as being associated with growth traits in cattle. These findings will further advance our understanding of the genetic basis for growth traits and will be useful for the molecular breeding of BW, YW, BYADG, and 18MW in the context of genomic selection in beef cattle.

scholarly journals Single-step genome-wide association study for social genetic effects and direct genetic effects on growth in Landrace pigs

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joon-Ki Hong ◽  
Jae-Bong Lee ◽  
Yuliaxis Ramayo-Caldas ◽  
Si-Dong Kim ◽  
Eun-Seok Cho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Model ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Single Step ◽  
Genetic Effects ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Positional Candidate ◽  
Network Analyses ◽  
Genome Wide

Abstract In livestock social interactions, social genetic effects (SGE) represent associations between phenotype of one individual and genotype of another. Such associations occur when the trait of interest is affected by transmissible phenotypes of social partners. The aim of this study was to estimate SGE and direct genetic effects (DGE, genetic effects of an individual on its own phenotype) on average daily gain (ADG) in Landrace pigs, and to conduct single-step genome-wide association study using SGE and DGE as dependent variables to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and their positional candidate genes. A total of 1,041 Landrace pigs were genotyped using the Porcine SNP 60K BeadChip. Estimates of the two effects were obtained using an extended animal model. The SGE contributed 16% of the total heritable variation of ADG. The total heritability estimated by the extended animal model including both SGE and DGE was 0.52. The single-step genome-wide association study identified a total of 23 QTL windows for the SGE on ADG distributed across three chromosomes (i.e., SSC1, SSC2, and SSC6). Positional candidate genes within these QTL regions included PRDM13, MAP3K7, CNR1, HTR1E, IL4, IL5, IL13, KIF3A, EFHD2, SLC38A7, mTOR, CNOT1, PLCB2, GABRR1, and GABRR2, which have biological roles in neuropsychiatric processes. The results of biological pathway and gene network analyses also support the association of the neuropsychiatric processes with SGE on ADG in pigs. Additionally, a total of 11 QTL windows for DGE on ADG in SSC2, 3, 6, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 17 were detected with positional candidate genes such as ARL15. We found a putative pleotropic QTL for both SGE and DGE on ADG on SSC6. Our results in this study provide important insights that can help facilitate a better understanding of the molecular basis of SGE for socially affected traits.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals the Genetic Basis of Cold Tolerance in Rice at the Seedling Stage

Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 318
Author(s):  
Tae-Ho Ham ◽  
Yebin Kwon ◽  
Yoonjung Lee ◽  
Jisu Choi ◽  
Joohyun Lee
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Cold Tolerance ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Seedling Stage ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Matrix Analysis ◽  
Rice Seedlings ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

We conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of cold tolerance in a collection of 127 rice accessions, including 57 Korean landraces at the seedling stage. Cold tolerance of rice seedlings was evaluated in a growth chamber under controlled conditions and scored on a 0–9 scale, based on their low-temperature response and subsequent recovery. GWAS, together with principal component analysis (PCA) and kinship matrix analysis, revealed four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) on chromosomes 1, 4, and 5 that explained 16.5% to 18.5% of the variance in cold tolerance. The genomic region underlying the QTL on chromosome four overlapped with a previously reported QTL associated with cold tolerance in rice seedlings. Similarly, one of the QTLs identified on chromosome five overlapped with a previously reported QTL associated with seedling vigor. Subsequent bioinformatic and haplotype analyses revealed three candidate genes affecting cold tolerance within the linkage disequilibrium (LD) block of these QTLs: Os01g0357800, encoding a pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) domain-containing protein; Os05g0171300, encoding a plastidial ADP-glucose transporter; and Os05g0400200, encoding a retrotransposon protein, Ty1-copia subclass. The detected QTLs and further evaluation of these candidate genes in the future will provide strategies for developing cold-tolerant rice in breeding programs.

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Association Study Identified Novel Candidate Loci/Genes Affecting Lodging Resistance in Rice

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 718
Author(s):  
Bingxin Meng ◽  
Tao Wang ◽  
Yi Luo ◽  
Deze Xu ◽  
Lanzhi Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Association Analysis ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Flag Leaf ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Lodging Resistance ◽  
Leaf Type ◽  
Stem Strength ◽  
Genome Wide

Lodging reduces rice yield, but increasing lodging resistance (LR) usually limits yield potential. Stem strength and leaf type are major traits related to LR and yield, respectively. Hence, understanding the genetic basis of stem strength and leaf type is of help to reduce lodging and increase yield in LR breeding. Here, we carried out an association analysis to identify quantitative trait locus (QTLs) affecting stem strength-related traits (internode length/IL, stem wall thickness/SWT, stem outer diameter/SOD, and stem inner diameter/SID) and leaf type-associated traits (Flag leaf length/FLL, Flag leaf angle/FLA, Flag leaf width/FLW, leaf-rolling/LFR and SPAD/Soil, and plant analyzer development) using a diverse panel of 550 accessions and evaluated over two years. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) using 4,076,837 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified 89 QTLs for the nine traits. Next, through “gene-based association analysis, haplotype analysis, and functional annotation”, the scope was narrowed down step by step. Finally, we identified 21 candidate genes in 9 important QTLs that included four reported genes (TUT1, OsCCC1, CFL1, and ACL-D), and seventeen novel candidate genes. Introgression of alleles, which are beneficial for both stem strength and leaf type, or pyramiding stem strength alleles and leaf type alleles, can be employed for LR breeding. All in all, the experimental data and the identified candidate genes in this study provide a useful reference for the genetic improvement of rice LR.

scholarly journals Evaluation of candidate genes in a genome-wide association study of childhood asthma in Mexicans

2010 ◽  
Vol 125 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-327.e13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Wu ◽  
Isabelle Romieu ◽  
Min Shi ◽  
Dana B. Hancock ◽  
Huiling Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Childhood Asthma ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome

scholarly journals Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) to Identify Salt-Tolerance QTLs Carrying Novel Candidate Genes in Rice During Early Vegetative Stage

Rice ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Nayyeripasand ◽  
Ghasem Ali Garoosi ◽  
Asadollah Ahmadikhah
Keyword(s):  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Gene ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Salinity Tolerance ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Vegetative Stage ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
Genomic Regions

Abstract Background Rice is considered as a salt-sensitive plant, particularly at early vegetative stage, and its production is suffered from salinity due to expansion of salt affected land in areas under cultivation. Hence, significant increase of rice productivity on salinized lands is really necessary. Today genome-wide association study (GWAS) is a method of choice for fine mapping of QTLs involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses including salinity stress at early vegetative stage. In this study using > 33,000 SNP markers we identified rice genomic regions associated to early stage salinity tolerance. Eight salinity-related traits including shoot length (SL), root length (RL), root dry weight (RDW), root fresh weight (RFW), shoot fresh weight (SFW), shoot dry weight (SDW), relative water content (RWC) and TW, and 4 derived traits including SL-R, RL-R, RDW-R and RFW-R in a diverse panel of rice were evaluated under salinity (100 mM NaCl) and normal conditions in growth chamber. Genome-wide association study (GWAS) was applied based on MLM(+Q + K) model. Results Under stress conditions 151 trait-marker associations were identified that were scattered on 10 chromosomes of rice that arranged in 29 genomic regions. A genomic region on chromosome 1 (11.26 Mbp) was identified which co-located with a known QTL region SalTol1 for salinity tolerance at vegetative stage. A candidate gene (Os01g0304100) was identified in this region which encodes a cation chloride cotransporter. Furthermore, on this chromosome two other candidate genes, Os01g0624700 (24.95 Mbp) and Os01g0812000 (34.51 Mbp), were identified that encode a WRKY transcription factor (WRKY 12) and a transcriptional activator of gibberellin-dependent alpha-amylase expression (GAMyb), respectively. Also, a narrow interval on the same chromosome (40.79–42.98 Mbp) carries 12 candidate genes, some of them were not so far reported for salinity tolerance at seedling stage. Two of more interesting genes are Os01g0966000 and Os01g0963000, encoding a plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase and a peroxidase BP1 protein. A candidate gene was identified on chromosome 2 (Os02g0730300 at 30.4 Mbp) encoding a high affinity K+ transporter (HAK). On chromosome 6 a DnaJ-encoding gene and pseudouridine synthase gene were identified. Two novel genes on chromosome 8 including the ABI/VP1 transcription factor and retinoblastoma-related protein (RBR), and 3 novel genes on chromosome 11 including a Lox, F-box and Na+/H+ antiporter, were also identified. Conclusion Known or novel candidate genes in this research were identified that can be used for improvement of salinity tolerance in molecular breeding programmes of rice. Further study and identification of effective genes on salinity tolerance by the use of candidate gene-association analysis can help to precisely uncover the mechanisms of salinity tolerance at molecular level. A time dependent relationship between salt tolerance and expression level of candidate genes could be recognized.

scholarly journals A Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Candidate Genes Related to Salt Tolerance in Rice (Oryza sativa) at the Germination Stage

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 3145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yu ◽  
Weiguo Zhao ◽  
Wei Tong ◽  
Qiang He ◽  
Min-Young Yoon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Salt Tolerance ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Genome Wide Association Study ◽  
Rice Genome ◽  
Genome Wide Association ◽  
Phenotypic Correlation ◽  
Genome Wide ◽  
A Genome ◽  
Germination Stage

Salt toxicity is the major factor limiting crop productivity in saline soils. In this paper, 295 accessions including a heuristic core set (137 accessions) and 158 bred varieties were re-sequenced and ~1.65 million SNPs/indels were used to perform a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of salt-tolerance-related phenotypes in rice during the germination stage. A total of 12 associated peaks distributed on seven chromosomes using a compressed mixed linear model were detected. Determined by linkage disequilibrium (LD) blocks analysis, we finally obtained a total of 79 candidate genes. By detecting the highly associated variations located inside the genic region that overlapped with the results of LD block analysis, we characterized 17 genes that may contribute to salt tolerance during the seed germination stage. At the same time, we conducted a haplotype analysis of the genes with functional variations together with phenotypic correlation and orthologous sequence analyses. Among these genes, OsMADS31, which is a MADS-box family transcription factor, had a down-regulated expression under the salt condition and it was predicted to be involved in the salt tolerance at the rice germination stage. Our study revealed some novel candidate genes and their substantial natural variations in the rice genome at the germination stage. The GWAS in rice at the germination stage would provide important resources for molecular breeding and functional analysis of the salt tolerance during rice germination.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document