Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype distribution of the bovine LHX4 gene in relation to growth.
LIM homeobox transcription factor 4 (LHX4) is a LIM homeodomain transcription factor involved in pituitary gland and nervous system development. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the LHX4 polymorphisms with growth traits in beef cattle breed. A total of 7 single nucleotide polymorphyisms (SNPs) have been identified in the coding region and noncoding region of the bovine LHX4 by sequencing pooled DNA samples (Pool-Seq) and PCR-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) methods. The linkage disequilibrium was assessed in 871 individuals representing four main cattle breeds from China. The SNPs 2-5 and 7-8 were found to be in complete linkage disequilibrium, respectively. The result of haplotype analysis of 13 SNPs showed that 31 haplotypes were found in four Chinese cattle breeds, and 20 genotypes were only found in Nanyang cattle. The statistical analyses indicated that the SNP1-5, and 6 are associated with the body weight at 18, and 6 months of age in Nanyang cattle population (P<0.05), but no significant associations between their twenty combined genotypes. Our results provide evidence that some polymorphisms in LHX4 are associated with growth traits at certain ages, and may be used as candidates for marker-assisted selection and management in cattle.
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address: rengang1213@gmail.com.
Gang
G
Ren
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address: hyzsci@126.com.
Yong-Zhen
YZ
Huang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Tian-Bao
TB
Wei
College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi, Xinjiang 832002, China.
Jun-Xia
JX
Liu
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Xian-Yong
XY
Lan
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Chu-Zhao
CZ
Lei
Institute of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Xuzhou Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221116, China.
Chun-Lei
CL
Zhang
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
Zhi-Ying
ZY
Zhang
Xianan cattle Technology & Development Company, Biyang, Henan 463700, China.
Xing-Lei
XL
Qi
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Agriculture, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address: chenhong1212@263.net.
Hong
H
Chen
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics; D001947:Breeding; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002681:China; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006239:Haplotypes; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D013045:Species Specificity
D005819:Genetic Markers; D060850:LIM-Homeodomain Proteins
Association; Cattle; Growth traits; Haplotype; LHX4