title: [Progress in exploring genes for high fertility in ewes].
abstract: Fecundity trait in sheep is regulated by some major genes. Among them, BMPR-IB, BMP-15, and GDF-9 are most distinguishing. The mutant FecB of BMPR-IB has multiplicative effects on ovulation. GDF-9's mutants FecGH, FecI, and BMP-15's mutants FecXI, FecXH, FecXG, FecXB, FecXL, and FecXR increase ovulation rate in the heterozygote but result in sterile phenotypes in the homozygote, while GDF-9's mutant, FecGE, only increases ovulation rate in the homozygote. In addition, Woodlands and Lacaune are known as inheritable major genes. Woodlands gene is an X-linked maternally imprinted gene, and Lacaune is similar to FecB with a multiplicative effect on ovulation rate. The size of the effect of one copy of a mutation on ovulation rate ranges from an extra 0.4 ovulations for the woodlands mutation to an extra 1.5 ovulations for the BMPR-IB and Lacaune mutation. Investigation into these genes will not only help to select breeds with high fertility, but also give a chance to further elucidate the mechanism involved in the phenomenon. This review summaries the source, location, phenotype, and mechanism of the major genes in all breeds of sheep.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China. xingji54@126.com
authors.forename: Jian-Qi
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Guang
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010060:Ovulation / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D055430:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15; D055429:Growth Differentiation Factor 9; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I