AUTHOR=Zhao Qiqi , Chen Junpeng , Zhang Xinheng , Xu Zhouyi , Lin Zhenping , Li Hongxin , Lin Wencheng , Xie Qingmei 

TITLE=Genome-Wide Association Analysis Reveals Key Genes Responsible for Egg Production of Lion Head Goose

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Genetics

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genetics/articles/10.3389/fgene.2019.01391

DOI=10.3389/fgene.2019.01391

ISSN=1664-8021

ABSTRACT=<p>The lion head goose is one of the most important agricultural resources in China; however, its breeding process is relatively slow. In the present study, a genome-wide association study was performed for the genetic selection of egg production characters in lion head geese. We detected 30 single-nucleotide polymorphisms located in or near 30 genes that might be associated with egg production character, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to verify their expression level in lion head geese. The results showed that the expression levels of <italic>CRTC1</italic> (encoding <italic>CREB</italic>-regulated transcription coactivator 1), <italic>FAAH2</italic> (encoding fatty acid amide hydrolase 2), <italic>GPC3</italic> (encoding glypican 3), and <italic>SERPINC1</italic> (encoding serpin family C member 1) in high egg production population were significantly lower than those in the low egg production populations (*<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). The expression levels of <italic>CLPB</italic> (encoding caseinolytic peptidase B protein homolog), <italic>GNA12</italic> (encoding guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-12), and <italic>ZMAT5</italic> (encoding zinc finger, matrin type 5) in the high egg production population were significantly higher than those in the low egg production populations (*<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). The expression of <italic>BMP4</italic> (encoding bone morphogenetic protein 4), <italic>FRMPD3</italic> (encoding <italic>FERM</italic> and <italic>PDZ</italic> domain containing 3), <italic>LIF</italic> (encoding leukemia inhibitory factor), and <italic>NFYC</italic> (encoding nuclear transcription factor Y subunit gamma) in the high egg production population were very significantly lower than those in the low egg production population (**<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01). Our findings provide an insight into the economic traits of lion head goose. These candidate genes might be valuable for future breeding improvement.</p>