title: Polymorphisms of the myostatin gene and its relationship with reproduction traits in the Bian chicken.
abstract: Myostatin, or growth and differentiation factor 8, is a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily; it functions as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and growth in mammals. In this study, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the 5' regulatory region and exon 1 of the myostatin gene were detected by PCR-SSCP in the Bian, Jinghai, Youxi, and Arbor Acre chickens, and the associations of the polymorphisms with reproduction traits were analyzed. Seven SNPs (A326G, C334G, C1346T, G1375A, A1473G, G1491A, and G2283A) were found in the myostatin gene. Association analysis showed that the G2283A were significantly associated with reproduction traits. Bian chickens of the GG genotype had a greater age at first egg than those of the GA and AA genotypes (P<0.01). Correspondingly, Bian chickens of the GA and AA genotypes had larger egg number at 300 days than those of the GG genotype (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). Bian chickens of the AA genotype had significantly higher body weight at 300 days than those of the GG genotype (P<0.05). These results suggested that the myostatin gene may have certain effects on reproduction traits other than merely as a negative regulator of skeletal muscle development and growth in mammals previously reported.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Genxi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Jinyu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fuxiang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Kaizhou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030161:Avian Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001709:Biotechnology; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000662:veterinary; D006239:Haplotypes; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000254:growth & development; D055435:Myostatin / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D030161:Avian Proteins; D055435:Myostatin