Screening of Candidate Genes and Their nsSNPs for Coat Color in Arctic White Fox (Vulpes lagopus) and Arctic Blue Fox Based on Whole- genome Resequencing Technology
GUO Jian-Xu1*, WANG Dong-Xian1, XIE Yu-Chun1, QIAO Xian1, PENG Yong-Dong2, GONG Yuan-Fang1, LIU Zheng-Zhu1*
1 College of Animal Science and Technology/Key Laboratory of Special Animal Germplasm Resources Exploitation and Innovation in Hebei Province, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; 2. College of Agronomy and Agricultural Engineering, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
Abstract：The diversity of coat color in Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) provides an important model for studying the genetic regulation of coat color, and understanding its regulatory mechanisms is crucial for the breeding of fur-bearing animals. In this study, whole-genome resequencing was performed on Arctic white foxes and Arctic blue foxes. Nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (nsSNP) sites located in exon regions were selected as candidate loci, and the corresponding candidate genes were analyzed. Candidate genes involved in coat color regulation were identified through functional enrichment analysis. The epidermalgrowth factor (EGF) and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) genes containing homozygous nsSNP mutationswere further validated using genomic DNA extracted from skin tissues of 42 Arctic foxes (21 white and 21 blue foxes). The results revealed that 8 860 718 SNPs and 21 150 nsSNPs were identified through resequencing, with 5 787 genes annotated. The nsSNP results of candidate genes were consistent with those obtained from whole-genome resequencing. Association analysis demonstrated that the c. 3571C>A variant inthe EGF gene and the c. 6812G>A variant in the APC gene were significantly (P<0.05) and extremelysignificantly (P<0.01) associated with coat color traits in Arctic white and blue foxes. These results indicated that specific variant sites in the APC and EGF genes identified through whole-genome resequencing and functional enrichment analysis might influence the formation of coat color in Arctic foxes. This study providescritical data for understanding the genetic mechanisms underlying coat color formation in Arctic white and blue foxes. Furthermore, it provides a theoretical freference for molecular breeding and the conservation of coat color diversity in fur animals.
郭建旭, 王东贤, 谢遇春, 乔贤, 彭永东, 巩元芳, 刘铮铸. 基于全基因组重测序技术筛查北极白狐与北极蓝狐毛色候选基因及其nsSNPs[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(6): 1324-1335.
GUO Jian-Xu, WANG Dong-Xian, XIE Yu-Chun, QIAO Xian, PENG Yong-Dong, GONG Yuan-Fang, LIU Zheng-Zhu. Screening of Candidate Genes and Their nsSNPs for Coat Color in Arctic White Fox (Vulpes lagopus) and Arctic Blue Fox Based on Whole- genome Resequencing Technology. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(6): 1324-1335.
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