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

TITLE=Ovine RAP1GAP and rBAT gene polymorphisms and their association with tail fat deposition in Hu sheep

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2022.974513

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2022.974513

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Excessive fat deposition in the tail of sheep will affect its feed efficiency, which will increase the feeding cost. The purpose of this study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> and <italic>rBAT</italic> genes by PCR amplification and Sanger sequencing, the SNPs were genotyped by KASP genotyping assays to evaluate their association with tail fat deposition traits. The results showed that two intronic mutations of g.13561 G &gt; A and g.1460 T &gt; C were found in <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> and <italic>rBAT</italic>, respectively. There were three genotypes of GG, AG, AA and CC, CT and TT at these two loci, respectively. Association analysis showed that g.13561 G &gt; A of <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> was associated with tail width, tail fat weight and relative tail fat weight (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). The g.1460 T &gt; C of <italic>rBAT</italic> was associated with tail width and tail fat weight (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). Different combinations of genotypes also differed significantly with tail fat deposition traits. In the tail fat tissue, the expression levels of <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> gene was significantly higher in small-tailed sheep than in big-tailed sheep, and the expression levels of <italic>rBAT</italic> gene was significantly higher in big-tailed sheep than in small-tailed sheep. In the liver, the expression levels of <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> and <italic>rBAT</italic> gene was significantly higher at 6 months than at 0 and 3 months. In conclusion, <italic>RAP1GAP</italic> and <italic>rBAT</italic> polymorphisms can be used as a candidate molecular marker to reduce tail fat deposition in sheep.</p>