Association study and expression analysis of GPC1 gene copy number variation in Chinese Datong yak (Bos grunniens) breed

Abstract

Copy number variations (CNVs) can cause radical changes in phenotype variation, gene expression and evolutionary adaptation, through gene dosage effects, disruption of transcript arrangement and regulatory polymorphisms. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to investigate the distribution of glypican1 (GPC1) CNVs in five domestic yak breeds, and their association growth traits and gene expression. The data were analysed using real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). Loss and normal copy number types had a significant (p < .05) associated with body height, weight and length and chest girth than gain of copy number types. Population studies indicated that loss of copy number was more frequently observed in the Tianzhu, Gannan and Plateau yaks than the Polled and Datong yaks. We elucidated a moderately negative and highly significant (p < .005) correlation among DNA copy numbers and mRNA transcription levels of GPC1. From these results, we hypothesise that GPC1 CNVs could alter mRNA transcription levels of skeletal muscles which impact on quantitative of growth traits. Our study makes data available for breeders and genomics studies focussing on the fundamental function of GPC1 CNVs in gene expression and growth traits and presents the foundation for future molecular marker application in designing yak breeding programmes.Highlights The GPC1 gene encompasses within CNVRs of yak individuals that overlap with growth traits. The copy number types of GPC1 had a significant associated with growth traits of yak breeds Negative and highly significant correlation among DNA copy numbers and mRNA transcription levels of GPC1 are obtained

Keywords

• copy number types
• growth traits
• mrna transcription