Association of low race performance with mtDNA haplogroup L3b of Australian thoroughbred horses.
Abstract: Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) encodes the genes for respiratory chain sub-units that determine the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria. The aim of this study was to determine if there were any haplogroups and variants in mtDNA that could be associated with athletic performance of Thoroughbred horses. The whole mitochondrial genomes of 53 maternally unrelated Australian Thoroughbred horses were sequenced and an association study was performed with the competition histories of 1123 horses within their maternal lineages. A horse mtDNA phylogenetic tree was constructed based on a total of 195 sequences (including 142 from previous reports). The association analysis showed that the sample groups with poor racing performance history were enriched in haplogroup L3b (p = .0003) and its sub-haplogroup L3b1a (p = .0007), while those that had elite performance appeared to be not significantly associated with haplogroups G2 and L3a1a1a (p > .05). Haplogroup L3b and L3b1a bear two and five specific variants of which variant T1458C (site 345 in 16s rRNA) is the only potential functional variant. Furthermore, secondary reconstruction of 16s RNA showed considerable differences between two types of 16s RNA molecules (with and without T1458C), indicating a potential functional effect. The results suggested that haplogroup L3b, could have a negative association with elite performance. The T1458C mutation harboured in haplogroup L3b could have a functional effect that is related to poor athletic performance.
Publication Date: 2017-01-27 PubMed ID: 28129729DOI: 10.1080/24701394.2016.1278535Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research paper focuses on the influence of mitochondrial DNA on the athletic performance of Thoroughbred horses, finding that the haplogroup L3b is linked to poor race performance.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to investigate whether certain variants in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are related to the athletic performance of Thoroughbred horses. Mitochondrial DNA codes for the elements of the respiratory chain sub-units that decide the efficiency of oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, a process that is integral to energy production in the body.
Methods and Materials
- Whole mitochondrial genomes were sequenced from 53 unrelated Australian Thoroughbred horses.
- An association study was conducted using the competition histories of 1123 horses within the same maternal lineages.
- A phylogenetic tree (a branching diagram showing the inferred evolutionary relationships) was constructed using a total of 195 sequences, 142 of which had been reported in previous studies.
Results
- The study found a significant correlation between poor racing performance and haplogroup L3b and sub-haplogroup L3b1a.
- Horses that showed high-level performance were not significantly associated with haplogroups G2 and L3a1a1a.
- There were two specific variants for haplogroup L3b and five for L3b1a among which variant T1458C (site 345 in 16s rRNA) was identified as the only one with potentially functional impact.
Conclusions
- The research suggests that haplogroup L3b is negatively associated with elite athletic performance in Thoroughbred horses. Particularly, the genetic mutation T1458C harboured in haplogroup L3b might have functional implications that are related to poor athletic performances.
- This is significant information for breeders, geneticists, and performance specialists in the horse racing industry because DNA profiling could assist in the selection of breeding stock and potentially improve race performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Lin X, Zheng HX, Davie A, Zhou S, Wen L, Meng J, Zhang Y, Aladaer Q, Liu B, Liu WJ, Yao XK.
(2017).
Association of low race performance with mtDNA haplogroup L3b of Australian thoroughbred horses.
Mitochondrial DNA A DNA Mapp Seq Anal, 29(2), 323-330.
https://doi.org/10.1080/24701394.2016.1278535 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- a Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine , Tianjin University of Sports , Tianjin , P.R. China.
- b State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and MOE Key Laboratory of Contemporary Anthropology, School of Life Sciences and Institutes of Biomedical Sciences , Fudan University , Shanghai , P.R.China.
- c School of Health and Human Sciences , Southern Cross University , Lismore , New South Wales , Australia.
- c School of Health and Human Sciences , Southern Cross University , Lismore , New South Wales , Australia.
- a Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine , Tianjin University of Sports , Tianjin , P.R. China.
- d College of Animal Sciences , Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumuqi , China.
- a Tianjin Key Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Sports Medicine , Tianjin University of Sports , Tianjin , P.R. China.
- e Center of Systematic Genomics, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Urumqi , China.
- e Center of Systematic Genomics, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Urumqi , China.
- d College of Animal Sciences , Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumuqi , China.
- d College of Animal Sciences , Xinjiang Agricultural University , Urumuqi , China.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Australia
- DNA, Mitochondrial / genetics
- Female
- Genetic Association Studies / methods
- Haplotypes
- Horses / classification
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Mutation
- Phylogeny
- Point Mutation
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Quantitative Trait Loci
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / chemistry
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Running
- Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Davie A, Beavers R, Hargitaiová K, Denham J. The Emerging Role of Hypoxic Training for the Equine Athlete.. Animals (Basel) 2023 Sep 3;13(17).
- Engel L, Becker D, Nissen T, Russ I, Thaller G, Krattenmacher N. Mitochondrial DNA Variation Contributes to the Aptitude for Dressage and Show Jumping Ability in the Holstein Horse Breed.. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 11;12(6).
- Engel L, Becker D, Nissen T, Russ I, Thaller G, Krattenmacher N. Exploring the Origin and Relatedness of Maternal Lineages Through Analysis of Mitochondrial DNA in the Holstein Horse.. Front Genet 2021;12:632500.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
