Genome-wide selection reveals candidate genes associated with multiple teats in Hu sheep

Abstract

Increasing the number of teats in sheep helps to improve the survival rate of sheep lambs after birth. In order to analyze the candidate genes related to the formation of multiple teats in Hu sheep, the present study was conducted to investigate the genetic pattern of multiple teats in Hu sheep. In this study, based on genome-wide data from 157 Hu sheep, Fst, xp-EHH, Pi and iHS signaling were performed, and the top 5% signal regions of each analyzed result were annotated based on the Oar_v4.0 for sheep. The results show that a total of 142 SNP loci were selected. We found that PTPRG, TMEM117 and LRP1B genes were closely associated with polypodium formation in Hu sheep, in addition, among the candidate genes related to polypodium we found genes such as TMEM117, SLC25A21 and NCKAP5 related to milk traits. The present study screened out candidate genes for the formation of multiple teats at the genomic level in Hu sheep.

Keywords:

• Hu sheep
• multiple teats
• candidate genes
• selection signals

Acknowledgments

We are thankful to all lab members for their support during the study.

Author contributions

Conceptualization, W.Z., X.L. (Xiaopeng Li) and Z.H. (Zhipeng Han); methodology, X.L. (Xiaopeng Li), C.Z. (Cheng-long Zhang); software, X.L. (Xiaopeng Li), and R.Y. (Ruizhi Yang); validation, Z.H. (Zhipeng Han); formal analysis, W.Z.; investigation, Z.H. (Zhipeng Han) and L.Z. (Lulu Zhang) ; resources, W.Z.; data curation, W.Z.; writing—original draft preparation, W.Z.; writing—review and editing, W.Z., C.L. (Chunjie Liu); visualization, W.Z.; supervision, R.W. (Ruotong Wang) and J.W. (Jieru Wang); project administration, S.L. (Shudong Liu); All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China [No: 32060743], Bingtuan Science and Technology Program [No: 2022CB001-09], Science and Technology Action for Industrial Development for Rural Revitalization in the Autonomous Region [No: 2022NC110] and Autonomous Region Agricultural Area High-efficiency Mutton Sheep Breeding and Promotion Technology System Project [No: xjnqry-g-2310].