AUTHOR=Li Yunna , Yang Hua , Guo Jing , Yang Yonglin , Yu Qian , Guo Yuanyuan , Zhang Chaoxin , Wang Zhipeng , Zuo Peng 

TITLE=Uncovering the candidate genes related to sheep body weight using multi-trait genome-wide association analysis

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=10

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2023.1206383

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2023.1206383

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>In sheep, body weight is an economically important trait. This study sought to map genetic loci related to weaning weight and yearling weight. To this end, a single-trait and multi-trait genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed using a high-density 600 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip. The results showed that 43 and 56 SNPs were significantly associated with weaning weight and yearling weight, respectively. A region associated with both weaning and yearling traits (OARX: 6.74–7.04 Mb) was identified, suggesting that the same genes could play a role in regulating both these traits. This region was found to contain three genes (<italic>TBL1X, SHROOM2</italic> and <italic>GPR143</italic>). The most significant SNP was Affx-281066395, located at 6.94 Mb (<italic>p</italic> = 1.70 × 10<sup>−17</sup>), corresponding to the <italic>SHROOM2</italic> gene. We also identified 93 novel SNPs elated to sheep weight using multi-trait GWAS analysis. A new genomic region (OAR10: 76.04–77.23 Mb) with 22 significant SNPs were discovered. Combining transcriptomic data from multiple tissues and genomic data in sheep, we found the <italic>HINT1</italic>, <italic>ASB11</italic> and <italic>GPR143</italic> genes may involve in sheep body weight. So, multi-omic anlaysis is a valuable strategy identifying candidate genes related to body weight.</p>