Single nucleotide polymorphisms within the bovine DLK1-DIO3 imprinted domain are associated with economically important production traits in cattle

J Hered. 2011 Jan-Feb;102(1):94-101. doi: 10.1093/jhered/esq097. Epub 2010 Sep 3.

Abstract

Previous studies show that DNA sequence variation within the mammalian DLK1-DIO3 imprinted domain influences production traits in domestic livestock, most notably the ovine callipyge phenotype. We assessed genotype-phenotype associations between 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the orthologous bovine DLK1-DIO3 domain and performance traits in 848 progeny-tested Holstein-Friesian dairy sires. One SNP (MEG3_01) located proximal to the maternally expressed 3 (MEG3/Gtl2) gene was associated with milk yield, subcutaneous fat levels, and progeny carcass conformation (P ≤ 0.01) and also tended to be associated with milk fat and protein yield (P ≤ 0.10). A single SNP (CLPG_01) within the putative CLPG1 locus was associated with progeny carcass fat (P ≤ 0.05), whereas a single SNP (PEG11_01) located proximal to the paternally expressed 11 (PEG11/Rtl) gene was associated with progeny carcass weight (P ≤ 0.05). The MEG3_01 SNP together with an additional 2 SNPs (MEG8_01 and MEG8_02) located proximal to the putative maternally expressed 8 (MEG8/Rian) ortholog were associated (P ≤ 0.05) with perinatal mortality. Finally, one SNP (MEG3_03) was associated (P ≤ 0.05) with gestation length, whereas both the CLPG_01 and MEG8_01 SNPs also tended to be associated with calving interval (P ≤ 0.10). Linkage disequilibrium analysis suggests that some phenotypic associations observed at these loci are independent. To our knowledge, this is one of the first studies demonstrating associations between the bovine DLK1-DIO3 domain and milk, carcass, fertility and, health traits in cattle. This imprinted domain may serve as a potential target for future genetic selection strategies.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cattle / genetics*
  • Cluster Analysis
  • Female
  • Gene Expression
  • Genomic Imprinting*
  • Genotype
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Male
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multigene Family
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Quantitative Trait Loci*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA