A genome-wide study to identify genes responsible for oviduct development in chickens

Abstract

Molecular genetic tools provide a method for improving the breeding selection of chickens (Gallus gallus). Although some studies have identified genes affecting egg quality, little is known about the genes responsible for oviduct development. To address this issue, here we used a genome-wide association (GWA) study to detect genes or genomic regions that are related to oviduct development in a chicken F2 resource population by employing high-density 600 K single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays. For oviduct length and weight, which exhibited moderate heritability estimates of 0.35 and 0.39, respectively, chromosome 1 (GGA1) explained 9.45% of the genetic variance, while GGA4 to GGA8 and GGA11 explained over 1% of the variance. Independent univariate genome-wide screens for oviduct length and weight detected 69 significant SNPs on GGA1 and 49 suggestive SNPs on GGA1, GGA4, and GGA8. One hundred and fourteen suggestive SNPs were associated with oviduct length, while 73 SNPs were associated with oviduct weight. The significant genomic regions affecting oviduct weight ranged from 167.79–174.29 Mb on GGA1, 73.16–75.70 Mb on GGA4, and 4.88–4.92 Mb on GGA8. The genes CKAP2, CCKAR, NCAPG, IGFBP3, and GORAB were shown to have potential roles in oviduct development. These genes are involved in cell survival, appetite, and growth control. Our results represent the first GWA analysis of genes controlling oviduct weight and length. The identification of genomic loci and potential candidate genes affecting oviduct development greatly increase our understanding of the genetic basis underlying oviduct development, which could have an impact on the selection of egg quality.

Effect of very low-protein diets supplemented with branched-chain amino acids on energy balance, plasma metabolomics and fecal microbiome of pigs

“…In concordance with these data, Prevotellaceae, Veillonellaceae, Ruminococcaceae , and Lachnospiraceae were previously reported as the most dominant communities at family level in the feces of pigs fed 12–24% CP 33 . Likewise, others reported a high abundance of Prevotellaceae, Ruminococcaceae and Lactobacillaceae in the feces of nursery pigs 47 . Increased abundance of Prevotellaceae and Ruminococcaceae among all groups, which are involved in digestion of polysaccharides may be due to availability of plant-based substrates for their action 44 , 48 – 51 .…”

Genetic architecture and candidate genes detected for chicken internal organ weight with a 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism array

“…Moreover, the region on GGA4 was related to egg weight, eggshell weight, oviduct weight in our population [ 23 , 40 ]. NCAPG harbored the missense rs14491030 was a candidate gene for all internal weight.…”

Evolutionary Subdivision of Domestic Chickens: Implications for Local Breeds as Assessed by Phenotype and Genotype in Comparison to Commercial and Fancy Breeds

“…One of the areas in the chicken genome presumably associated with growth traits is a region on chromosome 4 (GGA4) that embraces the candidate genes LCORL (ligand dependent nuclear receptor corepressor-like) and NCAPG (non-SMC condensin I complex, subunit G). At the NCAPG-LCORL locus and in the area close to this region, SNPs were found that are associated with the weight of internal organs in chickens [16], egg weight [17], and oviduct size [18]. The NCAPG-LCORL region has also been studied in mammals and has been identified as a locus associated with growth and developmental traits.…”