Assessment of the association of the MOGAT1 and MOGAT3 gene with growth traits in different growth stages in Holstein calves

Abstract

The members of the monoacylglycerol acyltransferase (MOGAT) family are essential candidate genes that influence economic traits associated with triglyceride synthesis, dietary fat absorption, and storage in livestock. In addition, the MOGAT gene family may also play an essential function in human polygenic diseases, like type 2 diabetes and obesity. The present study was conducted on Holstein calves to find the association between MOGAT1, MOGAT3/g.A229G, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A and growth traits. The polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was performed for genotyping the MOGAT1, MOGAT3/g.A229G, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A genes' locus using the TaqI, MspI, and BsuRI restriction enzyme. The allele frequency of A and G of the MOGAT1 locus was 0.79 and 0.21, respectively, while the genotype frequency was 0.65, 0.28, and 0.07 for AA, AG, and GG, respectively. While the allele and genotype frequencies of the MOGAT3/g.A229G locus were 00.57(A1), 0.43(G1), 0.35(A1A1), 0.45(A1G1), and 0.20(G1G1), the allele and genotype frequencies of the MOGAT3/g.G1627A locus were 0.49(A2), 0.51(G2), 0.25(A2A2), 0.49(A2G2), and 0.26(G2G2). Chi-square analysis showed that MOGAT3/g.G1627A distribution was at the Hardy–Weinberg disequilibrium (p < 0.05), and MOGAT1 and MOGAT3/g.A229G distribution was at the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05). In total, two statistical methods (general linear model (GLM) and PROC MIXED) were used to identify an association between gene locus and growth traits. An association analysis showed a statistically significant difference between the MOGAT1 and body weight, body length, and chest circumference, MOGAT3/g.A229G with average daily gain (ADG) and withers height, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A with body weight and body length (p < 0.05). The results confirmed that the MOGAT1, MOGAT3/g.A229G, and MOGAT3/g.G1627A locus are strong candidate genes that could be considered molecular markers for growth traits in cattle breeding.