Assessment of tools for marker-assisted selection in a marine commercial species: significant association between MSTN-1 gene polymorphism and growth traits.
Growth is a priority trait from the point of view of genetic improvement. Molecular markers linked to quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been regarded as useful for marker-assisted selection in complex traits as growth. Polymorphisms have been studied in five candidate genes influencing growth in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata): the growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), myostatin (MSTN-1), prolactin (PRL), and somatolactin (SL) genes. Specimens evaluated were from a commercial broodstock comprising 131 breeders (from which 36 males and 44 females contributed to the progeny). In all samples eleven gene fragments, covering more than 13,000 bp, generated by PCR-RFLP, were analyzed; tests were made for significant associations between these markers and growth traits. ANOVA results showed a significant association between MSTN-1 gene polymorphism and growth traits. Pairwise tests revealed several RFLPs in the MSTN-1 gene with significant heterogeneity of genotypes among size groups. PRL and MSTN-1 genes presented linkage disequilibrium. The MSTN-1 gene was mapped in the centromeric region of a medium-size acrocentric chromosome pair.
Laboratorio de Genética, Universidad de Cádiz, Poligono Río San Pedro s/n, 11510 Puerto Real, Spain.
Irma
I
Sánchez-Ramos
Ismael
I
Cross
Jaroslav
J
Mácha
Gonzalo
G
Martínez-Rodríguez
Vladimir
V
Krylov
Laureana
L
Rebordinos
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005819:Genetic Markers; D008297:Male; D008386:Marine Biology; D055435:Myostatin / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D021541:Sea Bream / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers; C525911:MSTN protein, human; D055435:Myostatin