Abstract
Abstract. This study aimed to determine the correlation among VLDLR (very low-density lipoprotein receptor) gene polymorphisms, body weight and abdominal fat deposition of Gaoyou ducks. A total of 267 Gaoyou ducks from one pure line was employed for testing. The polymorphisms of the VLDLR gene were screened by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing. Four novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (g.151G > A, g.170C > T, g.206A > G and g.278–295del) were identified in the 5'-UTR and signal peptide region. Furthermore, eight haplotypes were identified based on the four SNPs. The H8 was the most common haplotype with a frequency of more than 31 %. The four SNPs and their haplotype combinations were shown to be significantly associated with body weight at 6–10 weeks of age (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01) and abdominal fat percentage (AFP) (P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01). Remarkably, the H1H1 diplotype had an effect on increasing body weight and decreasing AFP from the 6th to the 10th weeks of age. However, increasing positive effects of the H5H8 diplotype were observed for both body weight and AFP. This study suggests that the VLDLR gene plays an important role in the regulation of body weight and fat-related traits and may serve as a potential marker for the marker-assisted selection program during duck breeding.
Highlights
Genetic markers closely linked to loci for economically important traits can be used to enhance the speed and effectiveness of progress in animal breeding
VLDLR expression levels are likely associated with the phenotypic biomarkers for obesity
This study aimed to identify the polymorphism of the VLDLR gene and to analyse the associations among polymorphism, growth and main carcass traits in Gaoyou ducks
Summary
Genetic markers closely linked to loci for economically important traits can be used to enhance the speed and effectiveness of progress in animal breeding. VLDLR mediates the uptake of very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) by peripheral tissues through lipoprotein lipase (LPL)-dependent lipolysis and participates in VLDL metabolism (Tacken et al, 2000; Takahashi et al, 1995, 2004; Goudriaan et al, 2004). Studies with VLDLR knockout mice have linked VLDLR with obesity and VLDLR mutants exhibit modest reductions in body weight and adiposity (Frykman et al, 1995; Goudriaan et al, 2001; Eppig et al, 2015; Suwa et al, 2010). Previous studies showed that VLDLR is related to body weight and adiposity in humans and mice (Brockmann et al, 1998; Kunej et al, 2013; Clemente-Postigo et al, 2011).
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