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10 pages, 1854 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Genome-Wide Alternative Splicing Analysis between Preadipocytes and Adipocytes

by Zhongyi Hou, Xin Li, Maosheng Xu, Shengbo Meng, Huifen Xu, Ming Li and Hanfang Cai

Genes 2024, 15(5), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15050640 - 18 May 2024

Viewed by 1090

Abstract

Alternative splicing is a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism in gene expression that allows a single gene to generate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Adipocyte development is regulated by many processes, and recent studies have found that splicing factors also play an important role in adipogenic [...] Read more.

Alternative splicing is a ubiquitous regulatory mechanism in gene expression that allows a single gene to generate multiple messenger RNAs (mRNAs). Adipocyte development is regulated by many processes, and recent studies have found that splicing factors also play an important role in adipogenic development. In the present study, we further investigated the differences in selective shearing during different periods of adipocyte differentiation. We identified five alternative splicing types including skipped exon, mutually exclusive exon, Alternative 5′ splice site, Alternative 3′ splice site, and Retained intron, with skipped exons being the most abundant type of selective shearing. In total, 641 differentially expressed selective shearing genes were obtained, enriched in 279 pathways, from which we selected and verified the accuracy of the sequencing results. Overall, RNA-seq revealed changes in the splicing and expression levels of these new candidate genes between precursor adipocytes and adipocytes, suggesting that they may be involved in adipocyte generation and differentiation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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13 pages, 1799 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molecular Mechanisms Associated with the Development of the Metritis Complex in Dairy Cattle

by Leanna Sanchez, Fernando Campos-Chillon, Mehdi Sargolzaei, Daniel G. Peterson, Kim A. Sprayberry, Garry McArthur, Paul Anderson, Bruce Golden, Siroj Pokharel and Mohammed K. Abo-Ismail

Genes 2024, 15(4), 439; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15040439 - 30 Mar 2024

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Abstract

The metritis complex (MC), a group of post-partum uterine diseases, is associated with increased treatment costs and reduced milk yield and fertility. The goal of this study was to identify genetic variants, genes, or genomic regions that modulate MC disease. A genome-wide association [...] Read more.

The metritis complex (MC), a group of post-partum uterine diseases, is associated with increased treatment costs and reduced milk yield and fertility. The goal of this study was to identify genetic variants, genes, or genomic regions that modulate MC disease. A genome-wide association study was performed using a single-locus mixed linear model of 1967 genotypes (624,460 SNPs) and metritis complex records. Then, in-silico functional analyses were performed to detect biological mechanisms and pathways associated with the development of MC. The ATP8A2, COX16, AMN, and TRAF3 genes, located on chromosomes 12, 10, and 21, were associated with MC at p ≤ 0.0001. These genes are involved in the regulation of cholesterol metabolism in the stromal tissue of the uterus, which can be directly associated with the mode of transmission for pathogens causing the metritis complex. The modulation of cholesterol abundance alters the efficiency of virulence factors and may affect the susceptibility of the host to infection. The SIPA1L1, DEPDC5, and RNF122 genes were also significantly associated with MC at p ≤ 0.0001 and are involved in the PI3k-Akt pathway, responsible for activating the autophagic processes. Thus, the dysregulation of these genes allows for unhindered bacterial invasion, replication, and survival within the endometrium. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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12 pages, 1916 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Background of Blood β-Hydroxybutyrate Acid Concentrations in Early-Lactating Holstein Dairy Cows Based on Genome-Wide Association Analyses

by Yueqiang Wang, Zhenyu Wang, Wenhui Liu, Shuoqi Xie, Xiaoli Ren, Lei Yan, Dong Liang, Tengyun Gao, Tong Fu, Zhen Zhang and Hetian Huang

Genes 2024, 15(4), 412; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15040412 - 26 Mar 2024

Viewed by 1373

Abstract

Ketosis is a common metabolic disorder in the early lactation of dairy cows. It is typically diagnosed by measuring the concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood. This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of blood BHB and conducted a genome-wide association [...] Read more.

Ketosis is a common metabolic disorder in the early lactation of dairy cows. It is typically diagnosed by measuring the concentration of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) in the blood. This study aimed to estimate the genetic parameters of blood BHB and conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) based on the estimated breeding value. Phenotypic data were collected from December 2019 to August 2023, comprising blood BHB concentrations in 45,617 Holstein cows during the three weeks post-calving across seven dairy farms. Genotypic data were obtained using the Neogen Geneseek Genomic Profiler (GGP) Bovine 100 K SNP Chip and GGP Bovine SNP50 v3 (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) for genotyping. The estimated heritability and repeatability values for blood BHB levels were 0.167 and 0.175, respectively. The GWAS result detected a total of ten genome-wide significant associations with blood BHB. Significant SNPs were distributed in Bos taurus autosomes (BTA) 2, 6, 9, 11, 13, and 23, with 48 annotated candidate genes. These potential genes included those associated with insulin regulation, such as INSIG2, and those linked to fatty acid metabolism, such as HADHB, HADHA, and PANK2. Enrichment analysis of the candidate genes for blood BHB revealed the molecular functions and biological processes involved in fatty acid and lipid metabolism in dairy cattle. The identification of novel genomic regions in this study contributes to the characterization of key genes and pathways that elucidate susceptibility to ketosis in dairy cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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11 pages, 2173 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Population Structure and Selection Signal Analysis of Nanyang Cattle Based on Whole-Genome Sequencing Data

by Yan Zhang, Zhitong Wei, Man Zhang, Shiwei Wang, Tengyun Gao, Hetian Huang, Tianliu Zhang, Hanfang Cai, Xian Liu, Tong Fu and Dong Liang

Genes 2024, 15(3), 351; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15030351 - 11 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1773

Abstract

With a rich breeding history, Nanyang cattle (NY cattle) have undergone extensive natural and artificial selection, resulting in distinctive traits such as high fertility, excellent meat quality, and disease resistance. This makes them an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of environmental adaptability. [...] Read more.

With a rich breeding history, Nanyang cattle (NY cattle) have undergone extensive natural and artificial selection, resulting in distinctive traits such as high fertility, excellent meat quality, and disease resistance. This makes them an ideal model for studying the mechanisms of environmental adaptability. To assess the population structure and genetic diversity of NY cattle, we performed whole-genome resequencing on 30 individuals. These data were then compared with published whole-genome resequencing data from 432 cattle globally. The results indicate that the genetic structure of NY cattle is significantly different from European commercial breeds and is more similar to North–Central Chinese breeds. Furthermore, among all breeds, NY cattle exhibit the highest genetic diversity and the lowest population inbreeding levels. A genome-wide selection signal analysis of NY cattle and European commercial breeds using Fst, θπ-ratio, and θπ methods revealed significant selection signals in genes associated with reproductive performance and immunity. Our functional annotation analysis suggests that these genes may be responsible for reproduction (MAP2K2, PGR, and GSE1), immune response (NCOA2, HSF1, and PAX5), and olfaction (TAS1R3). We provide a comprehensive overview of sequence variations in the NY cattle genome, revealing insights into the population structure and genetic diversity of NY cattle. Additionally, we identify candidate genes associated with important economic traits, offering valuable references for future conservation and breeding efforts of NY cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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14 pages, 823 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Genetic Parameters for Limousine Interbeef Genetic Evaluation of Calving Traits

by Zdeňka Veselá, Michaela Brzáková, Alexandra Novotná and Luboš Vostrý

Genes 2024, 15(2), 216; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15020216 - 7 Feb 2024

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to estimate across-country genetic correlations for calving traits (birth weight, calving ease) in the Limousine breed. Correlations were estimated for eight populations (Czech Republic, joint population of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Slovenia, Switzerland, [...] Read more.

The aim of this study was to estimate across-country genetic correlations for calving traits (birth weight, calving ease) in the Limousine breed. Correlations were estimated for eight populations (Czech Republic, joint population of Denmark, Finland, and Sweden, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Slovenia, Switzerland, and Estonia). An animal model on raw performance accounting for across-country interactions (AMACI) was used. (Co)variance components were estimated for pairwise combinations of countries. Fixed and random effects were defined by each country according to its national genetic evaluation system. The average across-country genetic correlation for the direct genetic effect was 0.85 for birth weight (0.69–0.96) and 0.75 for calving ease (0.62–0.94). The average correlation for the maternal genetic effect was 0.57 for birth weight and 0.61 for calving ease. After the estimation of genetic parameters, the weighted bending procedure was used to compute the full Interbeef genetic correlation matrix. After bending, direct genetic correlations ranged from 0.62 to 0.84 (with an average of 0.73) for birth weight and from 0.58 to 0.82 (with an average of 0.68) for calving ease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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Review

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13 pages, 770 KiB

Open AccessReview

Research Progress and Applications of Bovine Genome in the Tribe Bovini

by Xingjie Du, Yu Sun, Tong Fu, Tengyun Gao and Tianliu Zhang

Genes 2024, 15(4), 509; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes15040509 - 18 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1423

Abstract

Various bovine species have been domesticated and bred for thousands of years, and they provide adequate animal-derived products, including meat, milk, and leather, to meet human requirements. Despite the review studies on economic traits in cattle, the genetic basis of traits has only [...] Read more.

Various bovine species have been domesticated and bred for thousands of years, and they provide adequate animal-derived products, including meat, milk, and leather, to meet human requirements. Despite the review studies on economic traits in cattle, the genetic basis of traits has only been partially explained by phenotype and pedigree breeding methods, due to the complexity of genomic regulation during animal development and growth. With the advent of next-generation sequencing technology, genomics projects, such as the 1000 Bull Genomes Project, Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes project, and Bovine Pangenome Consortium, have advanced bovine genomic research. These large-scale genomics projects gave us a comprehensive concept, technology, and public resources. In this review, we summarize the genomics research progress of the main bovine species during the past decade, including cattle (Bos taurus), yak (Bos grunniens), water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), zebu (Bos indicus), and gayal (Bos frontalis). We mainly discuss the development of genome sequencing and functional annotation, focusing on how genomic analysis reveals genetic variation and its impact on phenotypes in several bovine species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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11 pages, 9846 KiB

Open AccessReview

Progress in Research on Key Factors Regulating Lactation Initiation in the Mammary Glands of Dairy Cows

by Haoyue Guo, Jianyuan Li, Yuhao Wang, Xiang Cao, Xiaoyang Lv, Zhangping Yang and Zhi Chen

Genes 2023, 14(6), 1163; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14061163 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3855

Abstract

Lactation initiation refers to a functional change in the mammary organ from a non-lactating state to a lactating state, and a series of cytological changes in the mammary epithelium from a non-secreting state to a secreting state. Like the development of the mammary [...] Read more.

Lactation initiation refers to a functional change in the mammary organ from a non-lactating state to a lactating state, and a series of cytological changes in the mammary epithelium from a non-secreting state to a secreting state. Like the development of the mammary gland, it is regulated by many factors (including hormones, cytokines, signaling molecules, and proteases). In most non-pregnant animals, a certain degree of lactation also occurs after exposure to specific stimuli, promoting the development of their mammary glands. These specific stimuli can be divided into two categories: before and after parturition. The former inhibits lactation and decreases activity, and the latter promotes lactation and increases activity. Here we present a review of recent progress in research on the key factors of lactation initiation to provide a powerful rationale for the study of the lactation initiation process and mammary gland development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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Other

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8 pages, 573 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Evaluation of GSTP1, GSTA4 and AChE Gene Methylation in Bovine Lymphocytes Cultured In Vitro with Miconazole Alone and in Combination with Mospilan 20SP

by Jana Halušková, Beáta Holečková, Viera Schwarzbacherová, Martina Galdíková, Silvia Sedláková and Jaroslav Bučan

Genes 2023, 14(9), 1791; https://doi.org/10.3390/genes14091791 - 12 Sep 2023

Viewed by 1157

Abstract

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is one of the most important epigenetic modifications. Its increased occurrence in regulatory sequences of genes, such as promoters and enhancers, is associated with the inhibition of their expression. Methylation patterns are not stable but are sensitive to factors such as [...] Read more.

5-methylcytosine (5mC) is one of the most important epigenetic modifications. Its increased occurrence in regulatory sequences of genes, such as promoters and enhancers, is associated with the inhibition of their expression. Methylation patterns are not stable but are sensitive to factors such as the environment, diet, and age. In the present study, we investigated the effects of fungicide miconazole, both alone and in combination with the insecticide Mospilan 20SP, on the methylation status of bovine GSTP1, GSTA4, and AChE genes in bovine lymphocytes cultured in vitro. The methylation-specific PCR technique was used for the objectives of this study. We found that miconazole alone at concentrations of 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, and 50 µg/mL after 24 h exposure probably did not induce changes in methylation for all three genes analysed. The same results were found for the combination of pesticides at 24 h exposure and the following concentrations for each of them: 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 12.5 µg/mL. Thus, we can conclude that the fungicide miconazole alone, as well as in combination with the insecticide Mospilan 20SP, was unlikely to cause changes to the methylation of bovine GSTP1, GSTA4, and AChE genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Genetics and Genomics of Cattle)

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