AUTHOR=Lin Changchun , Wang Weimin , Zhang Deyin , Huang Kai , Li Xiaolong , Zhang Yukun , Zhao Yuan , Wang Jianghui , Zhou Bubo , Cheng Jiangbo , Xu Dan , Li Wenxin , Zhao Liming , Ma Zongwu , Yang Xiaobin , Huang Yongliang , Cui Panpan , Liu Jia , Zeng Xiwen , Zhai Rui , Sun Landi , Weng Xiuxiu , Wu Weiwei , Zhang Xiaoxue , Zheng Wenxin 

TITLE=Polymorphisms in SHISA3 and RFC3 genes and their association with feed conversion ratio in Hu sheep

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.1010045

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.1010045

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>In animal husbandry, feed efficiency is a crucial economic trait. In this study, the general linear model was used to perform association analysis for various genotypes and feed conversion ratio (FCR)-related traits. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the expression of <italic>SHISA3</italic> and <italic>RFC3</italic> mRNA levels in 10 tissues from 6 sheep. The results showed that SNPs in the NC_040257.1:c.625 T &gt; C and NC_040261.1:g.9905 T &gt; C were analyzed whether they were associated to feed efficiency parameters in Hu sheep (body weight, feed intake, average daily growth, and feed conversion ratio). NC_040257.1:c.625 T &gt; C was shown to be significantly associated with body weight at 80, 100, and 120 days as well as feed conversion ratio (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), whereas NC_040261.1:g.9905 T &gt; C was found to be significantly associated with average daily weight gain from 80-140 days (ADG80-140) and FCR (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). In Hu sheep, the CC genotypes of SHISA3 and RFC3 were the most common genotypes related to feed efficiency traits. Furthermore, the feed conversion ratio of the combined genotypes TT<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-CC<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup>, TT<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-CT<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup>, TT<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-TT<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup>, CT<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-CC<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup> and CT<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-CT<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup> was significantly better than the FCR of CC<sup><italic>SHISA</italic>3</sup>-TT<sup><italic>RFC</italic>3</sup>. RT-qPCR results showed that the expression levels of <italic>SHISA3</italic> were lower in the lung than in spleen, kidney, muscle and lymph (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05), and RFC3 was the lung had a highly significant higher expression level than the heart, liver, spleen, and muscle (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.01). In conclusion, <italic>SHISA3</italic> and <italic>RFC3</italic> polymorphisms can be used as genetic markers for improving feed conversion efficiency in Hu sheep.</p>