Abstract
Background and Aim:Sheep productivity in developing countries is crucial, as this animal is an essential source of meat and wool. Myostatin (MSTN) plays an important role in the regulation of muscle mass through the regulation of muscle growth, differentiation, and regeneration. The present study sought to investigate genetic variation in the first intron of the MSTN gene and the association of variants with growth traits in major sheep breeds in Egypt (Barki, Ossimi, and Rahmani) and Saudi Arabia (Najdi) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing.Materials and Methods:Blood samples were collected, and DNA was extracted from 75 animals. A 386 bp fragment in the first intron of the MSTN gene was amplified using PCR. Polymorphic sites were detected using direct sequencing and then correlated with growth traits using a general linear model.Results:Sequence analysis of the first intron of MSTN gene identified six single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the studied breeds. Four mutual SNPs were determined: c.18 G>T, c.241 T>C, c.243 G>A, and c.259 G>T. In addition, two SNPs c.159 A>T and c.173 T>G were monomorphic (AA and TT, respectively) in the Ossimi, Rahmani, and Najdi breeds and polymorphic in the Barki breed. The association analysis revealed that the c.18 G>T and c.241 C>T significantly associated (p<0.05) with birth weight and average daily weight gain, respectively.Conclusion:Our results strongly support MSTN as a candidate gene for marker-assisted selection in sheep breeding programs. Furthermore, the identified variants may be considered as putative markers to improve growth traits in sheep.
Highlights
Sheep are an essential component of the agricultural sector in Egypt, as well as worldwide
The identified variants may be considered as putative markers to improve growth traits in sheep
The present study was conducted on 75 animals, including 60 animals from three different Egyptian sheep breeds and 15 animals from a Saudi Arabian Najdi breed
Summary
Sheep are an essential component of the agricultural sector in Egypt, as well as worldwide. Sheep supply small and marginal breeders with meat, milk, and wool products. In Egypt, sheep are an important source of meat production, contributing approximately 6% of total red meat produced [1]. Based on the total number of sheep, Barki, Ossimi, and Rahmani are the major sheep breeds in Egypt distributed along the western Mediterranean coastal region, the middle of Egypt, and the Northern Nile delta [2]. Sheep productivity in developing countries is crucial, as this animal is an essential source of meat and wool. The present study sought to investigate genetic variation in the first intron of the MSTN gene and the association of variants with growth traits in major sheep breeds in Egypt (Barki, Ossimi, and Rahmani) and Saudi Arabia (Najdi) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing
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