The glutamate metabotropic receptor 5(GRM5)gene is associated with beef cattle home range and movement tortuosity

Background:The grazing behaviour of herbivores and their grazing personalities might in part be determined genetically,but there are few studies in beef cattle illustrating this.In this study,we investigated for first time the genetic variation within a candidate‘grazing gene',the glutamate metabotropic receptor 5 gene(GRM5),and tested associations between variation in that gene and variation in grazing personality behaviours(GP-behaviours)displayed by free-ranging cows during winter grazing in the steep and rugged rangelands of New Zealand.Mature beef cows(n=303,from 3 to 10 years of age)were tracked with global positioning system(GPS)and,with 5-minutes(min)relocation frequency,various GP-behaviours were calculated.These included horizontal and vertical distances travelled,mean elevation,elevation range,elevation gain,slope,home range and movement tortuosity,variously calculated using daily relocation trajectories with repeated measurements(i.e.,7 to 24 days(d))and satellite-derived digital elevation models(DEM).The different GP-behaviours were fitted into mixed models to ascertain their associations with variant sequences and genotypes of GRM5.Results:We discovered three GRM5 variants(A,B and C)and identified the six possible genotypes in the cattle studied.The mixed models revealed that A was significantly associated with elevation range,home range and movement tortuosity.Similarly,GRM5 genotypes were associated(P<0.05)to home range and movement tortuosity,while trends suggesting association(P<0.1)were also revealed for elevation range and horizontal distance travelled.Most GP-behaviour models were improved by correcting for cow age-class as a fixed factor.The analysis of GP-behaviours averaged per cow age-class suggests that grazing personality is fully established as beef cows reached 4 years of age.Home range and movement tortuosity were not only associated with GRM5 variation,but also negatively correlated with each other(r=-0.27,P<0.001).Conclusions:There seems to be a genetically determined trade-off between home range and movement tortuosity that may be useful in beef cattle breeding programmes aiming to improve the grazing distribution and utilisation of steep and rugged rangelands.

南疆地区四种地方鸡外貌特征及繁殖性能比较

本文对新疆天山南麓4个地方鸡外貌特征及500日龄产蛋数、孵化率、21周龄体重、体尺进行两两比较。结果显示,拜城油鸡和阿合奇县地方鸡外貌特征比较接近,和静县地方鸡和塔什库尔干县地方鸡各具独特性;阿合奇县地方鸡500日龄产蛋数最多,塔什库尔干县地方鸡最低,阿合奇县地方鸡、塔什库尔干县地方鸡与拜城油鸡差异显著;4个地方鸡孵化率无显著差异;和静县地方鸡21周龄体重与阿合奇县地方鸡、塔什库尔干县地方鸡差异显著;塔什库尔干县地方鸡胫长和胸宽与其他3个鸡种差异显著,阿合奇县地方鸡胸骨长与塔什库尔干县地方鸡差异显著。

Identification of the keratin-associated protein 13-3 (KAP13-3) gene in sheep

Keratin-associated proteins (KAPs) are a major structural component of hair and wool fibres, and play a critical role in determining the properties of the fibre. To date, forty functional high sulphur KAP genes from fourteen families have been identified in humans, but only six functional high sulphur KAP genes have been identified in sheep. This led us to search for the ovine KAP13-3 gene, a gene encoding a high sulphur KAP. In this study, the notional KAP13- 3 gene (KRTAP13-3) was amplified using primers designed based on a reported bovine KRTAP13-3 se- quence. PCR-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to screen amplicons derived from the gene in one hundred and forty seven New Zealand Romney crossbred sheep. Five unique banding patterns were revealed. Either one PCR-SSCP pattern (homozygous) or a combination of two patterns (heterozygous) was observed for each sheep. Sequencing of PCR amplicons representtative of different SSCP patterns revealed five different DNA sequences. The sequences derived from the amplicons showed a low homology to other known ovine KRTAPs, but had a high homology with previous reported KRTAP13-n sequences from human and cattle, with the closest homology being with bovine KRTAP13-3, suggesting the sequences represent the ovine KRTAP13-3 locus. Among the five allele sequences, four nucleotide substitutions were identified within the coding region. Of these substitutions, three were non-synonymous and would result in amino acid changes (p.Arg79Cys, p.Arg81Gln and p.Tyr130His). This variation in the KAP13-3 gene may affect gene expression, the structure and assembly of the protein, and consequently influence wool traits, if KAP13-3 is of importance to wool fibre structure.

山羊KRTAP26-1基因鉴定及其遗传特征研究

角蛋白关联蛋白（keratin-associated proteins,KAPs）是羊毛和羊绒的主要结构成分,决定了它们的理化性质。在人类、家犬、小鼠和大鼠中已描述了高硫蛋白KAP26-1的编码基因,但在山羊中该基因尚未被鉴定。本研究以人类KRTAP26-1基因编码区序列为模板,利用BLAST软件,在山羊基因组中发现了与人类KRTAP26-1基因具有高度同源性的序列并被假定为山羊的KRTAP26-1基因。PCR-SSCP分析发现,在5个山羊群体的605个个体中有4条不同的核苷酸变异序列（定义为A-D）。序列同源性和进化树研究结果表明,这4条序列与已鉴定的其它山羊KRTAPs基因序列有较低的同源性,但与人类、家犬、小鼠和大鼠的KR-TAP26-1基因序列具有最高的同源性。这说明发现的这4条序列是山羊KRTAP26-1基因的等位基因。4个等位基因的编码区内,共发现了6个SNPs位点,其中3个是非同义突变,造成了氨基酸序列的变化。4条多肽链含有36-38个磷酸化位点。5个山羊群体均处于中度多态,但是等位基因频率分布在不同群体间有差异。等位基因A、B和D在5个山羊群体中均出现,但C在中卫山羊中没有出现。结果表明,山羊KR-TAP26-1基因有较为丰富的核苷酸序列变异,这些变异可能与绒山羊的产绒性能有关。