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Screening of reproduction‐related single‐nucleotide variations from MeDIP‐seq data in sheep
Author(s) -
Cao Jiaxue,
Wei Caihong,
Zhang Shuzhen,
Capellini Terence D.,
Zhang Li,
Zhao Fuping,
Li Li,
Zhong Tao,
Wang Linjie,
Du Lixin,
Zhang Hongping
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/mrd.22734
Subject(s) - biology , reproduction , methylated dna immunoprecipitation , computational biology , rna seq , genetics , dna methylation , transcriptome , gene , gene expression
SUMMARY 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 .