Genome wide associations study of single nucleotide polymorphisms with productivity parameters in Jalgin merino for identification of new candidate genes

Abstract

A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on the frequency of occurrence of individual SNPs using the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip 600K in sheep of the Jalgin merino breed with different class evaluations according to the phenotype determining productive qualities. Twenty-three single nucleotide polymorphisms with high significant differences in occurrence between groups of examined animals were identified. Annotation of closely located genes to determine candidate genes for productivity showed that 10 substitutions were in the introns of the protein-coding genes, and three in the intron of one gene. Two polymorphisms were located next to the genes of long non-coding RNAs, one next to the microRNA gene, and two more to the spliceosomal RNA gene. The remaining substitutions related to intergenic variants. As a result of the study, we identified the following candidate genes: FOXN3, CNTN3, FTO, CFAP73, ARPP21, ADAMTS9, FRMPD4, RBM45, SHC4, ZFP36L1, ACTN1, ASTN1, RAB21. Most of these genes are regulatory, determining the intensity of growth and development of cells and tissues. The detected substitutions, significantly differing in frequency between the groups of animals examined, can be used as genetic markers of productivity in breeding work to improve the quality of Jalgin merino and other sheep breeds.