The Novel Structural Variation in the GHR Gene Is Associated with Growth Traits in Yaks (Bos grunniens)

Fubin Wang; Xiaoyun Wu; Xiaoming Ma; Qi Bao; Qingbo Zheng; Min Chu; Xian Guo; Chunnian Liang; Ping Yan

doi:10.3390/ani13050851

The Novel Structural Variation in the GHR Gene Is Associated with Growth Traits in Yaks (Bos grunniens)

Animals (Basel). 2023 Feb 26;13(5):851. doi: 10.3390/ani13050851.

Authors

Fubin Wang^{1

2

3}, Xiaoyun Wu^{1

2}, Xiaoming Ma^{1

2}, Qi Bao^{1

2}, Qingbo Zheng^{1

2

3}, Min Chu^{1

2}, Xian Guo^{1

2}, Chunnian Liang^{1

2}, Ping Yan^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Yak Breeding Engineering of Gansu Province, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China.
² Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics and Breeding on Tibetan Plateau, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050, China.
³ Life Science and Engineering College, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou 730030, China.

Abstract

The growth hormone receptor (GHR) is a member of the cytokine/hematopoietic factor receptor superfamily, which plays an important role in the growth and development, immunity, and metabolism of animals. This study identified a 246 bp deletion variant in the intronic region of the GHR gene, and three genotypes, including type II, type ID, and type DD, were observed. Genotype analysis of structural variation (SV) was performed on 585 individuals from 14 yak breeds, and it was found that 246 bp deletion was present in each breed. The II genotype was dominant in all yak breeds except for SB yak. The association analysis of gene polymorphisms and growth traits in the ASD yak population showed that the 246 bp SV was significantly associated with body length at 6 months (p < 0.05). GHR messenger RNA (mRNA) was expressed in all the tested tissues, with significantly higher levels in the liver, muscle, and fat than in other organs. The results of transcription activity showed that the luciferase activity of the pGL4.10-DD vector was significantly higher than that of the pGL4.10-II vector (p < 0.05). Additionally, the transcription-factor binding prediction results showed that the SV in the runt-related transcription factor 1 (Runx1) transcription-factor binding site may affect the transcriptional activity of the GHR gene, regulating yak growth and development. This study showed that the novel SV of the GHR gene could be used as a candidate molecular marker for the selection of the early growth trait in ASD yak.

Keywords: Bos grunniens; SV 246 bp; candidate molecular marker; growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene; growth traits.

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFD1600200), Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund (Y2022LM10), Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (25-LZIHPS-01), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-37) and Foundation for Innovation Groups of Basic Research in Gansu Province (20JR5RA580).