Genome-wide analyses based on a novel donkey 40K liquid chip reveal the gene responsible for coat color diversity in Chinese Dezhou donkey

In this study, genome-wide association analysis was performed for the differences in coat color traits between the Sanfen (n = 97) and Wutou (n = 108) strains using a novel donkey 40K liquid chip developed based on GenoBaits technology, to identify genomic regions and causal genes that could explain this variation. We also used FST and The cross-population composite likelihood ratio test (XPCLR) analyses to explore selected regions related to coat color differences. We identified one significant region on chromosome 15, with the most significant SNP located within the agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene. At the same time, both FST and XPCLR methods detected the same selected region on chromosome 15, and ASIP was the gene with the strongest signal. ASIP and melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) control the ratio of eumelanin to pheomelanin through their protein activity. They are deeply involved in the process of melanosome organation and melanogenesis, thus affecting mammals' coat color variation. We used a range of genome-wide approach to identify the genetic basis of coat color variation in Dezhou donkeys. The results provide a supplement to the color variation study in Chinese donkeys at the genome-wide level, and preliminarily verified the reliability of the Molbreeding Donkey No. 1 40K liquid chip.PMID:37994172 | DOI:10.1111/age.13379

Source: Animal Genetics - November 23, 2023 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Shuqin Liu Jiangtian Su Qiwen Yang Minhao Sun Zhaofei Wang Jie Yu Halima Jafari Chuzhao Lei Yujiang Sun Ruihua Dang Source Type: research