Multiomic meta‐analysis suggests a correlation between steroid hormone‐related genes and litter size in goats

• Published in: Animal genetics 2024-10, Vol.55 (5), p.779-787
• Main Authors: Liu, Cheng‐Li, Mou, Hui‐Long, Na, Ri‐Su, Wang, Xiao, Hu, Peng‐Fei, Ceccobelli, Simone, Huang, Yong‐Fu, E, Guang‐Xin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal husbandry; Animals; candidate gene; Chemical synthesis; Cholesterol; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Female; Gene sequencing; Genes; Genetic analysis; Genomes; genome‐wide selection sweep analysis; Genomic analysis; goat; Goats; Goats - genetics; Litter size; Litter Size - genetics; Livestock; Modules; Ovaries; Ovary - growth & development; Ovary - metabolism; RNA‐seq; Signal transduction; Steroids
• ISSN: 0268-9146; 1365-2052; 1365-2052
• DOI: 10.1111/age.13464

Litter size is a key indicator of production performance in livestock. However, its genetic basis in goats remains poorly understood. In this work, a genome‐wide selection sweep analysis (GWSA) on 100 published goat genomes with different litter rates was performed for the first time to identify candidate genes related to kidding rate. This analysis was combined with the public RNA‐sequencing data of ovary tissues (follicular phase) from high‐ and low‐yielding goats. A total of 2278 genes were identified by GWSA. Most of these genes were enriched in signaling pathways related to ovarian follicle development and hormone secretion. Moreover, 208 differentially expressed genes between groups were obtained from the ovaries of goats with different litter sizes. These genes were substantially enriched in the cholesterol and steroid synthesis signaling pathways. Meanwhile, the weighted gene co‐expression network was used to perform modular analysis of differentially expressed genes. The results showed that seven modules were reconstructed, of which one module showed a very strong correlation with litter size (r = −0.51 and p‐value