Genetic Variants in STAT3 Promoter Regions and Their Application in Molecular Breeding for Body Size Traits in Qinchuan Cattle

Abstract

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a critical role in leptin-mediated regulation of energy metabolism. This study investigated genetic variation in STAT3 promoter regions and verified their contribution to bovine body size traits. We first estimated the degree of conservation in STAT3, followed by measurements of its mRNA expression during fetal and adult stages of Qinchuan cattle. We then sequenced the STAT3 promoter region to determine genetic variants and evaluate their association with body size traits. From fetus to adult, STAT3 expression increased significantly in muscle, fat, heart, liver, and spleen tissues (p < 0.01), but decreased in the intestine, lung, and rumen (p < 0.01). We identified and named five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): SNP1-304A>C, SNP2-285G>A, SNP3-209A>C, SNP4-203A>G, and SNP5-188T>C. These five mutations fell significantly outside the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) (Chi-squared test, p < 0.05) and significantly associated with body size traits (p < 0.05). Individuals with haplotype H3H3 (CC-GG-CC-GG-CC) were larger in body size than other haplotypes. Therefore, variations in the STAT3 gene promoter regions, most notably haplotype H3H3, may benefit marker-assisted breeding of Qinchuan cattle.

Genetic variants in the TORC2 gene promoter and their association with body measurement and carcass quality traits in Qinchuan cattle

“…The general linear model (GLM) using SPSS 20.0 software (SPSS, Inc., Chicago, USA) was used for the association analysis between SNPs and selected traits of carcass quality. The linear model was the same as that used in previous publications of our research group [23,39,40]. The statistical linear model was Y ijkm = u+G i = A j +A k +S m +E ijkm , where Y ijkm are the traits measured on each animal; u is the overall mean for each trait; G i is the fixed effect associated with jth genotype; A j is the fixed effect of the jth age; A k is the fixed effect due to the age of the dam; S m is the random effect with the mth sire; and E ijkm is the standard error.…”

“…Polymorphism in the promoter region is of great importance because the promoter region contains cis-acting elements that bind with transcription factors and regulate the respective gene [22][23][24][25]. For example, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the STAT3 [23], SIRT3 [26], KLF3 [27] SIX1 [24] and SIX4 [28] genes promoter regions impacted body measurement and meat quality traits in the Qinchuan cattle breed. Polymorphisms in the promoter region cause the addition or loss of important transcription factor binding sites, which in turn leads to the suppression or activation of target genes.…”

Bioinformatics analysis and genetic polymorphisms in genomic region of the bovine SH2B2 gene and their associations with molecular breeding for body size traits in qinchuan beef cattle

“…Genetic polymorphisms are linked with traits of economic importance in livestock, because of their impact on the expression of relevant genes [35][36][37], e.g. single polymorphism in the STAT3 [37], SIRT3 [38], KLF3 [39] SIX1 [36], and SIX4 [40] genes impacted on body measurement and meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle breed.…”

SNPs in AKIRIN2, TTN, EDG1 and MYBPC1 genes are associated with growth-related traits in Chinese Qinchuan cattle

“…The quality and quantity of the extracted DNA were evaluated using a Nanodrop ® spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scienti c, Waltham, MA, USA) and by agarose gel electrophoresis. The DNA samples and phenotypes of 350 QC adult females were provided from the National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Northwest A & F University [24,25]. The measurement of growth-related traits (body length, withers height, hip height, hip width, rump length, chest depth and chest circumference) were described in the previous reports [24,25].…”

“…The DNA samples and phenotypes of 350 QC adult females were provided from the National Beef Cattle Improvement Center, Northwest A & F University [24,25]. The measurement of growth-related traits (body length, withers height, hip height, hip width, rump length, chest depth and chest circumference) were described in the previous reports [24,25]. The DNA samples of 50 MG population in Mongolia (MGM), 50 WL and 50 LL cattle were provided from the Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Biomanufacture, Inner Mongolia Agriculture University.…”