Association between copy number variation of SERPINA3-1 gene and growth traits in Chinese cattle

Abstract

Serpin peptidase inhibitor, clade A (alpha-1 antiproteinase, antitrypsin), member 3 (SERPINA3) belongs to the serine protease inhibitor family A subtype, and contains 8 genes from SERPINA3-1 to SERPINA3-8. Although the regulatory effects of these 8 genes have been revealed one by one in recent years, the related effects of SERPINA3-1 gene on cattle growth is still unclear. This study used quantitative Real time PCR (qPCR) to detect the type of copy number variation (CNV) of SERPINA3-1 gene in a total of 542 Chinese cattle, and expression of SERPINA3-1 gene in different tissues of Qinchuan cattles (adult) on mRNA level. Then association analysis was conducted between the detection results and cattle growth traits. The results showed that the Duplication type in SERPINA3-1 gene performed better on the growth traits and the CNV was significantly correlated with multiple growth traits (p < 0.05). In addition, SERPINA3-1 gene has different expression conditions in different tissues, results showed that SERPINA3-1 gene has a low expression in muscle. In conclusion, we speculate that the SERPINA3-1 gene can be used as a molecular marker and the result of this study could be a basic material for candidate functional genes for beef cattle growth and development.

Simple summary

In order to detect the gene expression diversification of the SERPINA3-1 gene, blood samples were collected from five Chinese cattle breeds, we detected related signal and made an associated analyze with cattle growth traits. We determined the copy number variation distribution of the SERPINA3-1 gene in cattle populations and found that the SERPINA3-1 gene has a certain promoting effect on the growth and development of Chinese cattle. For example, Pinan cattle with Duplication type copy number have a better performance on growth traits. This study has enriched the candidate genes of Chinese cattle molecular breeding and provided basic data for Chinese cattle breeding.

Keywords:

• Chinese cattle
• SERPINA3-1 gene
• copy number variation
• mRNA expression
• association analysis

Disclosure statement

The authors declared that they have no conflicts of interest to this work. The authors declare that they do not have any commercial or associative interest that represents a conflict of interest in connection with the work submitted.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Beef Cattle and Yak Industrial Technology System [No. CARS-37]; The Henan Beef Cattle Industrial Technology System [No. S2013-08]; Science-Technology Foundation for Outstanding Young Scientists of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences [No. 2020YQ36]; Funds for Science Research and Development of Henan Academy of Agricultural Science [2019CY08]; Science-Technology Foundation for innovation and creativity of Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences [2020CX09]; The National Key Research and Development Program of China [2018YFD0501700]; Provincial Natural Science Foundation of Ningxia [No.2019AAC03295]; Science and Technology Project of Agricultural, Rural and Social Development in Guyuan City [2019GKNS007].