Effect of genomic regions harboring putative lethal haplotypes on reproductive performance in closed experimental selection lines of Nellore cattle

Author(s)

Rodrigues, Gustavo R. D. ; Cyrillo, Joslaine N. S. G. ; Mota, Lucio F. M. ; Schmidt, Patricia I. ; Valente, Julia P. S. ; Oliveira, Eduarda S. ; Albuquerque, Lucia G. ; Brito, Luiz F. ; Mercadante, Maria E. Z.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC REPORTS; v. 15, n. 1, p. 15-pg., 2025-02-03.

Abstract

Lethal alleles are mutations in the genome that cause embryonic losses in affected homozygous embryos and, therefore, can negatively influence reproduction rates in commercial populations. Thus, this study aimed to identify genomic regions containing potential lethal haplotypes in Nellore breed; identify candidate genes located within these regions; and investigate the reproductive performance of heterozygous carriers of lethal haplotypes in Nellore cattle. Forty-five genomic regions harboring putative lethal haplotypes were identified, which overlap with 360 genes. Gene ontology analyses of these genes revealed biological processes associated with the development of sexual traits in males and females, key functions of the immune system, energy homeostasis, and embryonic development. The gene networks were involved in metabolic pathways including ovarian steroidogenesis, oocyte meiosis, and insulin secretion. Matings between carrier dam and carrier sire led to a reduction of up to -203.46% in pregnancy success probability, an increase of 275.15% in probability of pregnancy loss, 295.03% for stillbirth occurrence, and 301.40% for pre-weaning mortality when compared to non-carrier dam and sire matings. The results highlight the importance of identifying animals that are carriers of lethal haplotypes to avoid the propagation of these haplotypes in the population. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/20026-8 - Multi-user equipment approved in grant 2017/10630-2: server
• Grantee: Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
• Support Opportunities: Multi-user Equipment Program
• FAPESP's process: 24/01909-7 - Genome scan for transmission ratio distortion regions and its associations with abortion, stillbirth and pre-weaning mortality in Nellore cattle
• Grantee: Gustavo Roberto Dias Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 24/05697-4 - Study of the indirect genetic effect of social interaction on traits obtained in feed efficiency tests of Nellore cattle
• Grantee: Júlia de Paula Soares Valente
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 21/09942-5 - Variance of gametic diversity estimation for economically important traits of Nellore cattle
• Grantee: Patrícia Iana Schmidt
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/10630-2 - Genetic aspects of meat production quality, efficiency and sustainability in Nelore breed animals
• Grantee: Lucia Galvão de Albuquerque
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 23/11176-4 - Mapping candidates for lethal haplotypes and genomic regions associated with the occurrence of abortion and pre-weaning mortality in Nellore cattle
• Grantee: Gustavo Roberto Dias Rodrigues
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 22/11852-7 - Structural equation modeling as a tool to interpret genotype-environment interaction and genome-wide association (GWAS) for growth and reproductive traits in Nellore heifers using whole-genome sequence data
• Grantee: Lúcio Flávio Macedo Mota
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/50339-5 - Institutional research development plan of the Animal Science Institute (PDIp)
• Grantee: Lenira El Faro Zadra
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - State Research Institutes Modernization Program