China Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 52 ›› Issue (8): 3695-3706.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2025.08.018

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles    

Polymorphisms of MAP2K6 Gene and Its Association Analysis with Growth Traits in Hu Sheep

ZHU Shuo1, SUN Jinghua2, BAO Jingjing2, SHANG Mingyu2, LIU Tianyi2, XIONG Jinke2, YANG Peifu2, YAO Shuhai2, SUN Xintian2, HE Jianning1, YANG Huiguo3, ZHANG Li2   

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China;
    2. State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China;
    3. Livestock Research Institute, Academy of Animal Science of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumqi 830011, China
  • Received:2024-10-28 Published:2025-08-02

PDF (PC)

17

Abstract: 【Objective】 The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6 (MAP2K6) gene in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hu sheep at different developmental stages,and analyze the correlation between the polymorphisms of MAP2K6 gene and the growth traits of Hu sheep,so as to provide novel marker resources for the molecular breeding of growth traits in Hu sheep. 【Method】 Real-time quantitative PCR was utilized to analyze the expression of MAP2K6 gene in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hu sheep (n=15) at various developmental stages.The Illumina OvineSNP 50K BeadChip was used to detect the single nucleotide polymorphisms of MAP2K6 gene in Hu sheep (n=3 024).A general linear model was used to analyze the relationship between MAP2K6 gene SNP and growth traits in Hu sheep (n=1 974).The correlation coefficient between body weight and body size of Hu sheep was calculated by R language corrplot package. 【Result】 The results of Real-time quantitative PCR showed that the expression of MAP2K6 gene in longissimus dorsi muscle of Hu sheep gradually increased from birth to 4-month-old.The expression of MAP2K6 gene at 3 and 4-month-old was extremely significantly higher than that at birth,45-day-old,and 6-month-old(P＜0.01).Two SNPs (rs414959578 G＞A and rs426057803 A＞G) of MAP2K6 gene in Hu sheep were detected.The association analysis results indicated that rs414959578 G＞A of MAP2K6 gene had significant or extremely significant effects on the body weight,body height,body length,chest circumference,chest depth,chest width,cross height,and waist angle width at 5-month-old,as well as chest circumference and backfat thickness at 6-month-old in Hu sheep (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).rs426057803 A＞G of MAP2K6 gene had significant or extremely significant effects on the cannon circumference at 3-month-old,and chest circumference,shin circumference,and cross height at 5-month-old,as well as the backfat thickness at 6-month-old in Hu sheep (P＜0.05 or P＜0.01).Correlation analysis results revealed that there was significant positive correlations between body weight and body size indicators in Hu sheep (P＜0.05).However,there was no significant correlation between body length and chest width/waist angle width at 6-month-old,or shin circumference at 5-month-old and waist angle width at 6-month-old (P＞0.05). 【Conclusion】 MAP2K6 gene was associated with the development of longissimus dorsi muscle in Hu sheep,and rs414959578 G＞A and rs426057803 A＞G had significant influence on the growth traits in Hu sheep.The results could provide a theoretical basis for identifying and utilizing molecular markers for growth traits in Hu sheep.

Key words: Hu sheep; MAP2K6 gene; growth traits; association analysis

CLC Number: