Abstract：Nuclear receptor subfamily 4 group A member 1 (NR4A1) is widely expressed in tissues of sheep (Ovis aries) and plays multiple biological functions, participating in the regulation of muscle and bone development. This study aimed to investigate the sequence characteristics and polymorphisms in the 3' untranslated regions (3'UTR) of NR4A1 and its correlation with early growth traits in Hu sheep. The 3'UTR sequence of NR4A1 was obtained by PCR, rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) and Sanger sequencing, and analyzed by bioinformatics method. The mutation sites in NR4A1 3'UTR were screened by Pooled-DNA sequencing, and genotyped by DNA sequencing. Then, the polymorphism of the sequence and its correlation with early growth traits was analyzed. Results showed that NR4A1 3'UTR sequence of Hu sheep with a length of 556 bp was obtained. Two mutations, g.26473 C>T and g.26656 G>A, were found in the 3'UTR of NR4A1 of Hu sheep. The 2 loci were completely linked with 3 genotypes, named CCGG, CTAG and TTAA, and CCGG was the dominant genotype (88.4%). Association analysis showed that there was no significant difference in birth weight among the 3 genotypes (P>0.05), while weaning weight and average daily gain from birth to weaning with CTAG genotype were significantly higher than those with CCGG genotype in Hu sheep (P<0.05). In conclusion, the 3'UTR of NR4A1 of Hu sheep has 2 completely linked mutation sites with 3 genotypes CCGG, CTAG and TTAA, and Hu sheep with CTAG genotype in the 3'UTR of NR4A1 has advantages in early growth, which is expected to become a potential marker for the molecular breeding of sheep.
李晓彤, 于昊, 王悦, 谢婧, 茆达干. 湖羊NR4A1基因3'UTR区多态性及其与早期生长性状的关联分析[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(5): 1044-1052.
LI Xiao-Tong, YU Hao, WANG Yue, XIE Jing, MAO Da-Gan. Polymorphisms in the 3' UTR of NR4A1 Gene and Its Association Analysis with Early Growth Traits in Hu Sheep (Ovis aries). 农业生物技术学报, 2025, 33(5): 1044-1052.
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