Genomic adaptation to extreme climate conditions in beef cattle as a consequence of cross-breeding program

• Published in: BMC genomics Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 186
• Main Authors: Tian, Rugang, Asadollahpour Nanaie, Hojjat, Wang, Xiao, Dalai, Baolige, Zhao, Meng, Wang, Fenf, Li, Hui, Yang, Ding, Zhang, Hao, Li, Yuan, Wang, Tingyue, Luan, Tu, Wu, Jianghong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 06.04.2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Acclimatization - genetics; Adaptation; Analysis; Animal breeding; Animal husbandry; Animal populations; Animals; Beef cattle; Cattle; Cattle - genetics; Chromosomes; Climate; Climate change; Climatic conditions; Clustering; Cold adaptation; Cold regions; Cold shock proteins; Comparative analysis; Consumption; Cross-breeding; Ecotypes; Energy metabolism; Environmental aspects; Evolution; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genetic analysis; Genetic aspects; Genetic diversity; Genetic structure; Genetic testing; Genome; Genomes; Genomics; Genomics - methods; Geographical distribution; Growth; Homeostasis; Immune response; Immune system; Indigenous animals; Likelihood ratio; Linkage disequilibrium; Livestock; Livestock breeding; Meat; Methods; Nucleotide sequence; Nucleotides; Phenotype; Phylogeny; Physiological aspects; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Population genetics; Population structure; Population studies; Populations; Selection, Genetic; Software; Transient receptor potential proteins; TRPM8; Whole-genome sequence; China; Africa; Mongolia; TRPM8; Cold adaptation; Cattle; Whole-genome sequence
• ISSN: 1471-2164; 1471-2164
• DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09235-2

Understanding the evolutionary forces related to climate changes that have been shaped genetic variation within species has long been a fundamental pursuit in biology. In this study, we generated whole-genome sequence (WGS) data from 65 cross-bred and 45 Mongolian cattle. Together with 62 whole-genome sequences from world-wide cattle populations, we estimated the genetic diversity and population genetic structure of cattle populations. In addition, we performed comparative population genomics analyses to explore the genetic basis underlying variation in the adaptation to cold climate and immune response in cross-bred cattle located in the cold region of China. To elucidate genomic signatures that underlie adaptation to cold climate, we performed three statistical measurements, fixation index (FST), log nucleotide diversity (θπ ratio) and cross population composite likelihood ratio (XP-CLR), and further investigated the results to identify genomic regions under selection for cold adaptation and immune response-related traits. By generating WGS data, we investigated the population genetic structure and phylogenetic relationship of studied cattle populations. The results revealed clustering of cattle groups in agreement with their geographic distribution. We detected noticeable genetic diversity between indigenous cattle ecotypes and commercial populations. Analysis of population structure demonstrated evidence of shared genetic ancestry between studied cross-bred population and both Red-Angus and Mongolian breeds. Among all studied cattle populations, the highest and lowest levels of linkage disequilibrium (LD) per Kb were detected in Holstein and Rashoki populations (ranged from ~ 0.54 to 0.73, respectively). Our search for potential genomic regions under selection in cross-bred cattle revealed several candidate genes related with immune response and cold shock protein on multiple chromosomes. We identified some adaptive introgression genes with greater than expected contributions from Mongolian ancestry into Molgolian x Red Angus composites such as TRPM8, NMUR1, PRKAA2, SMTNL2 and OXR1 that are involved in energy metabolism and metabolic homeostasis. In addition, we detected some candidate genes probably associated with immune response-related traits. The study identified candidate genes involved in responses to cold adaptation and immune response in cross-bred cattle, including new genes or gene pathways putatively involved in these adaptations. The identification of these genes may clarify the molecular basis underlying adaptation to extreme environmental climate and as such they might be used in cattle breeding programs to select more efficient breeds for cold climate regions.