Molecular Characterization and Expression of SPP1, LAP3 and LCORL and Their Association with Growth Traits in Sheep.

Yongfu La,Fadi Li,Futao Mo,Weimin Wang,Xiaoxue Zhang,Chong Li,Deyin Zhang

doi:10.3390/genes10080616

Abstract

The SPP1, LAP3, and LCORL are located on chromosome 6 of sheep and a domain of 36.15-38.56 Mb, which plays an essential role in tissue and embryonic growth. In this study, we cloned the complete coding sequences of SPP1 and partial coding regions of LAP3 and LCORL from Hu sheep (Gansu Province, China) and analyzed their genomic structures. The RT-qPCR showed that the three genes were expressed widely in the different tissues of Hu sheep. The SPP1 expression was significantly higher in the kidney (p < 0.01) and LAP3 expression was significantly higher in the spleen, lung, kidney, and duodenum than in the other tissues (heart, liver, rumen, muscle, fat, and ovary; p < 0.05). The LCORL was preferentially expressed in the spleen, duodenum, and lung (p < 0.05). In addition, the nucleotide substitution NM_001009224.1:c.132A>C was found in SPP1; an association analysis showed that it was associated with birth weight and yearling weight (p < 0.05), and NM_001009224.1:c.132C was the dominant allele. Two mutations XM_012179698.3:c.232C>G and XM_012179698.3:c.1154C>T were identified in LAP3. The nucleotide substitution XM_012179698.3:c.232C>G was confirmed to be associated with birth weight, 1-month weight, 3-month weight (p < 0.05), and 2-month weight (p < 0.01). The nucleotide substitution XM_012179698.3:c.1154C>T was associated with birth weight (p < 0.01), 1-month weight, and 2-month weight (p < 0.05). The LAP3 gene XM_012179698.3:c.232C>G mutation with the C allele has higher body weight than other sheep, and CC genotype individuals show higher birth weight, 1-month weight, and weaning weight than the GG genotype individuals (p < 0.05). Our results support the conclusion that the mutations on ovine SPP1 and LAP3 successfully track functional alleles that affect growth in sheep, and these genes could be used as candidate genes for improving the growth traits of sheep during breeding.

Highlights

In sheep (Ovis aries), a region between 36.15 and 38.56 Mb on chromosome 6 (OAR6) includes13 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with body weight (BW) [1]
Ovis aries Secreted phosphoprotein 1 (SPP1), LAP3 and Ligand dependent nuclear receptor corepressor like (LCORL) are most similar to Bos mutus SPP1 (99%), Bos mutus LAP3 (100%), and Canis lupus familiaris LCORL (87%), respectively (Figure 1)
The multiple amino acid sequence alignments show that SPP1 is more conserved than LAP3 and LCORL across the above-mentioned eight species

Summary

Introduction

In sheep (Ovis aries), a region between 36.15 and 38.56 Mb on chromosome 6 (OAR6) includes. 13 significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with body weight (BW) [1]. The SPP1 is a multifunctional secreted glycosylated sialic-acid-rich phosphoprotein and an immobilized noncollagenous extracellular matrix protein in mineralized tissues [3]. Schnabel et al [4] proposed that an SNP upstream of SPP1 is a positional candidate polymorphism that explains a quantitative trait locus (QTL) on OAR6 that affects milk traits. The association of SPP1 with tissue growth [6] and embryonic growth [7] has been reported

Methods

Results

Conclusion