Novel Variants in the HMGA2 Gene Are Associated With Withers Height in Debao Pony.
Abstract: The Debao pony is a well-known dwarf horse breed in China. High-mobility group AT-hook 2 (HMGA2) gene is regarded as one of the important candidate genes regulating body height in horses. The aim of this study was to study the association between mutations in HMGA2 gene and withers height in Debao ponies. The polymorphisms in all exons and partial introns of the HMGA2 gene were screened with sequencing across 180 Debao ponies. And the association between the DNA variants and withers height was analyzed. Seven genetic variants were identified in HMGA2 gene, including six novel variants. Among them, six mutations were located in two closed linked blocks. The three novel variants (In1-1, E5-1, and E5-2) in the 1st intron and the fifth exon and a known mutation (In1-2) had significant association with withers height in Debao ponies. These results suggest that the four variants have the potential to be used as genetic markers for dwarf horse breeding activities.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-02-01 PubMed ID: 32303316DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102948Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article is about a study that investigated the connection between mutations in the HMGA2 gene and the size – specifically the withers height – of Debao ponies. The authors found seven genetic variants in the gene, six of which were new discoveries. Four of these variants were found to be significantly associated with the withers height of the ponies.
Research Objective
- The primary objective of this study was to explore if there were any associations between the different mutations or variants identified in the HMGA2 gene and the withers height of the Debao ponies. The withers height is determined by measuring the horse at its highest point, where the neck meets the back.
Methodology
- The researchers sequenced the polymorphisms found within all exons and partial introns of the HMGA2 gene across 180 Debao ponies.
- Following the identification of seven genetic variants in the HMGA2 gene, six of which were novel, the authors analysed their association with the withers height.
Results
- Out of the seven genetic variants identified, six were located in two closely linked blocks.
- Three new variants, referred to as In1-1, E5-1, and E5-2, were found in the first intron and the fifth exon of the HMGA2 gene.
- One known mutation, referred to as In1-2, was found significantly associated with withers’ height in Debao ponies.
- The researchers have suggested these four variants – In1-1, E5-1, E5-2, and In1-2 – could be used as genetic markers for dwarf horse breeding programs.
Implications
- This research points towards reinforcing the role of the HMGA2 gene in regulating the body size of horses and underscores its potential usability in genetic breeding programs targeted towards dwarf horses.
- It also expands the current understanding of genetic variants affecting withers height in Debao ponies by introducing six novel variants.
Cite This Article
APA
Liu S, Jiang S, Dong XG, Cui R, Ling Y, Zhao C.
(2020).
Novel Variants in the HMGA2 Gene Are Associated With Withers Height in Debao Pony.
J Equine Vet Sci, 88, 102948.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.102948 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China.
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
- Equine Center, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic Improvement, Beijing, China. Electronic address: cjzhao@cau.edu.cn.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Body Height / genetics
- China
- Exons / genetics
- HMGA2 Protein / genetics
- Horses / genetics
- Humans
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Clark BL, Bamford NJ, Stewart AJ, McCue ME, Rendahl A, Bailey SR, Bertin FR, Norton EM. Evaluation of an HMGA2 variant contribution to height and basal insulin concentrations in ponies. J Vet Intern Med 2023 May-Jun;37(3):1186-1192.
- Han H, Randhawa IAS, MacHugh DE, McGivney BA, Katz LM, Dugarjaviin M, Hill EW. Selection signatures for local and regional adaptation in Chinese Mongolian horse breeds reveal candidate genes for hoof health. BMC Genomics 2023 Jan 19;24(1):35.
- Jafari H, Abebe BK, Cong L, Ahmed Z, Zhaofei W, Sun M, Muhatai G, Chuzhao L, Dang R. Review: Genomic insights into the adaptive traits and stress resistance in modern horses. Stress Biol 2026 Jan 12;6(1):5.
- Saito I, Nakamura K, Tozaki T, Hano K, Takasu M. Genetic characterization of Japanese native horse breeds by genotyping variants that are associated with phenotypic traits. J Equine Sci 2023 Dec;34(4):115-120.
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