title: Screening of reproduction-related single-nucleotide variations from MeDIP-seq data in sheep.
abstract: Extensive variation in reproduction has arisen in Chinese Mongolian sheep during recent domestication. Hu and Small-tailed Han sheep, for example, have become non-seasonal breeders and exhibit higher fecundity than Tan and Ujumqin breeds. We therefore scanned reproduction-related single-nucleotide variations from methylated DNA-immunoprecipitation sequencing data generated from each of those four breeds to uncover potential mechanisms underlying this breed variation. We generated a high-quality map of single nucleotide variations (SNVs) in DNA methylation enriched regions, and found that the majority of variants are located within non-coding regions. We identified 359 SNVs within the Sheep Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) database. Nineteen of these SNVs associated with the Aseasonal Reproduction QTL, and 10 out of the 19 reside close to genes with known reproduction functions. We also identified the well-known FecB mutation in high-fecundity sheep (Hu and Small-tailed Han sheep). When we applied these FecB finding to our breeding system, we improved lambing rate by 175%. In summary, this study provided strong candidate SNVs associated with sheep fecundity that can serve as targets for functional testing and to enhance selective breeding strategies. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 958-967, 2016 © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.|Chengdu JDK Biotechnology LTD, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jiaxue
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Caihong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Shuzhen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Terence D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Capellini
authors.affiliation: National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Fuping
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Linjie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Center for Molecular Genetics and Breeding of Animal, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Lixin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Hongping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030561:Databases, Nucleic Acid; D005260:Female; D056426:Genetic Loci; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012098:Reproduction / Q000235:genetics*; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*