A genome-wide search of meat productivity candidate genes in Russian Meat Merino breed

A genome-wide associations study (GWAS) of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) with indicators of meat productivity in Russian Meat Merino was carried out. A new approach is based on the selection of animals for research considered with known productivity genes (MSTN, MYOD1, etc.). Animal genotyping was performed using Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip 600 K (Illumina, USA). As a result, 20 SNPs significantly associated with the body measurements and ultrasound parameters of the animals were identified. Around these SNPs, 14 candidate genes were discovered. Investigated parameters of phenotype can be associated with structural disorders in these genes. Most SNPs were located in the intergenic space, two polymorphisms were located in the Upstream and Downstream regions. One SNP was localized in the intron, two are in the exon of genes. Two substitutions were next to the long non-coding RNA and micro-RNA. The following candidate genes were annotated: ASB3, THADA, PRPS1L1, Ccdc130, MTHFS, RALGAPA1, MEIS1, AKIRIN1, GRXCR1, Lrig1, ANKS1B, CFI, KRAB, and SLCO2B1. These genes are involved in some metabolic processes of cell proliferation and differentiation, function of neurons and immune system. Further research should be oriented to study the structure of these genes and use discovered SNPs as new molecular markers in breeding.