Whole-Genome Resequencing Points to Candidate DNA Loci Affecting Body Temperature under Cold Stress in Siberian Cattle Populations

oleh: Alexander Igoshin, Nikolay Yudin, Ruslan Aitnazarov, Andrey A. Yurchenko, Denis M. Larkin

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2021-09-01

Deskripsi

Despite the economic importance of creating cold resilient cattle breeds, our knowledge of the genetic basis of adaptation to cold environments in cattle is still scarce compared to information on other economically important traits. Herein, using whole-genome resequencing of animals showing contrasting phenotypes on temperature maintenance under acute cold stress combined with the existing SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) functional annotations, we report chromosomal regions and candidate SNPs controlling body temperature in the Siberian cattle populations. The SNP ranking procedure based on regional <i>F</i><sub>ST</sub> calculations, functional annotations, and the allele frequency difference between cold-tolerant and cold-sensitive groups of animals pointed to multiple candidate genes. Among these, <i>GRIA4</i>, <i>COX17</i>, <i>MAATS1</i>, <i>UPK1B</i>, <i>IFNGR1</i>, <i>DDX23</i>, <i>PPT1</i>, <i>THBS1</i>, <i>CCL5</i>, <i>ATF1</i>, <i>PLA1A</i>, <i>PRKAG1,</i> and <i>NR1I2</i> were previously related to thermal adaptations in cattle. Other genes, for example <i>KMT2D</i> and <i>SNRPA1,</i> are known to be related to thermogenesis in mice and cold adaptation in common carp, respectively. This work could be useful for cattle breeding strategies in countries with harsh climates, including the Russian Federation.