title: Association of polymorphisms at the microRNA binding site of the caprine KITLG 3'-UTR with litter size.
abstract: This study identified three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (c.1389C > T, c.1457A > C and c.1520G > A) in the caprine KITLG 3'-UTR through DNA sequencing. The three SNP loci were closely linked in Guanzhong dairy (GD) goats. Two alleles of the c.1457A > C SNP introduced two miRNA sites (chi-miR-204-5p and chi-miR-211). Individuals with combined genotype TT-CC-AA had a higher litter size compared with those with combined genotypes CC-AA-GG, TC-CC-GA and CC-AC-GG (P < 0.05). Luciferase assays showed that chi-miR-204-5p and chi-miR-211 suppressed luciferase expression in the presence of allele 1457A compared with negative control (NC) and allele 1457C (P < 0.05). Western blot revealed that KITLG significantly decreased in the granulosa cells (GCs) of genotype AA compared with that in the GCs of genotype CC and NC (P < 0.05). The KITLG mRNA levels of the CC-AA-GG carriers significantly decreased compared with those of the TT-CC-AA, TC-CC-GA and CC-AC-GG carriers. In addition, cell proliferation was reduced in haplotype C-A-G GCs compared with that in haplotype T-C-A GCs. These results suggest that SNPs c.1389C > T, c.1457A > C and c.1520G > A account for differences in the litter size of GD goats because chi-miR-204-5p and chi-miR-211 could change the expression levels of the KITLG gene and reduce GC proliferation.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuxuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Life Science, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shuhai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Haidong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Kexin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jinxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Binyun
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D056426:Genetic Loci; D005838:Genotype; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics*; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000378:metabolism*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D035683:MicroRNAs; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019089:Stem Cell Factor