Novel genes involved in the genetic architecture of temperament in Brahman cattle

PLoS One. 2020 Aug 21;15(8):e0237825. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237825. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Cattle temperament is a complex and economically relevant trait. The objective of this study was to identify genomic regions and genes associated with cattle temperament. From a Brahman cattle population of 1,370 animals evaluated for temperament traits (Exit velocity-EV, Pen Score-PS, Temperament Score-TS), two groups of temperament-contrasting animals were identified based on their EV-average values ±1/2 standard deviation (SD). To be considered in the calm group, the EV of females ranged between 0.16-1.82 m/s (n = 50) and the EV of males ranged between 0.4-1.56 m/s (n = 48). Females were classified as temperamental if their EV ranged between 3.13-7.66 m/s (n = 46) and males were classified as temperamental if their EV ranged between 3.05-10.83 m/s (n = 45). Selected animals were genotyped using a total of 139,376 SNPs (GGP-HD-150K), evaluated for their association with EV. The Genome-Wide Association analysis (GWAS) identified fourteen SNPs: rs135340276, rs134895560, rs110190635, rs42949831, rs135982573, rs109393235, rs109531929, rs135087545, rs41839733, rs42486577, rs136661522, rs110882543, rs110864071, rs109722627, (P<8.1E-05), nine of them were located on intergenic regions, harboring seventeen genes, of which only ACER3, VRK2, FANCL and SLCO3A1 were considered candidate associated with bovine temperament due to their reported biological functions. Five SNPs were located at introns of the NRXN3, EXOC4, CACNG4 and SLC9A4 genes. The indicated candidate genes are implicated in a wide range of behavioural phenotypes and complex cognitive functions. The association of the fourteen SNPs on bovine temperament traits (EV, PS and TS) was evaluated; all these SNPs were significant for EV; only some were associated with PS and TS. Fourteen SNPs were associated with EV which allowed the identification of twenty-one candidate genes for Brahman temperament. From a functional point of view, the five intronic SNPs identified in this study, are candidates to address control of bovine temperament, further investigation will probe their role in expression of this trait.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkaline Ceramidase / genetics
  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal*
  • Cattle / genetics*
  • Cattle / psychology*
  • Emotions*
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group L Protein / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genome-Wide Association Study
  • Genotype
  • Male
  • Organic Anion Transporters / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers / genetics
  • Temperament*
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Organic Anion Transporters
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers
  • Vesicular Transport Proteins
  • Fanconi Anemia Complementation Group L Protein
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Alkaline Ceramidase

Grants and funding

AMSR received support by Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (https://www.conacyt.gob.mx) through the project CONACyT 294826 and 299055 CONACyT and from the Instituto Politécnico Nacional (http://www.sappi.ipn.mx/) through the research Project SIP 20195072. RR,TW and RR by Texas A&M AgriLife Research. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.