The use of the SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker to predict race performance in Arabian horses.
Abstract: Arabian horses are commonly believed to be one of the oldest and the most popular horse breeds in the world, characterized by favourable stamina traits and exercise phenotypes. During intensive training, the rates of lactate production and utilization are critical to avoid muscle fatigue and a decrease in exercise performance. The key factor determining transmembrane lactate transport is the monocarboxylate transporter 1 protein coded for by the SLC16A1 gene. The aim of the present research was to identify polymorphisms in the coding sequence and UTRs in the equine SLC16A1 gene and to evaluate their potential association with race performance traits in Arabian horses. Based on RNA-seq data, SNPs were identified and genotyped using PCR-RFLP or PCR-HRM methods in 254 Arabian horses that competed in flat races. An association analysis between polymorphisms and racing results was performed. Novel polymorphisms in the equine SLC16A1 locus have been identified (missense and 5'UTR variants: g.55601543C > T and g.55589063 T > G). Analysis showed a significant association between the 5'UTR polymorphism and several racing results as follows: the possibility of winning first or second place, the number of races in which horses started and total financial benefits. The analysis also showed differences in genotype distribution depending on race distance. In the studied population, the shorter distance races were only won by TT horses. The GG and TG horses took first and second places in middle- and long-distance races, and the percentage of winning heterozygotes increased from 19.5 to 27% at the middle and long distances, respectively. The p.Val432Ile (g.55601543C > T) polymorphism was not significantly related to the analysed racing results. Our results showed that g.55589063 T > G polymorphism affected the possibility of winning first or second place and of competing in more races. The different distribution of genotypes depending on race distance indicated the possibility of using a SNP in the SLC16A1 gene as a marker to predict the best race distance for a horse. The presented results provide a basis for further research to validate the use of the SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker associated with racing performance.
Publication Date: 2019-09-11 PubMed ID: 31510920PubMed Central: PMC6740031DOI: 10.1186/s12863-019-0774-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
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Summary
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The study investigates the association between the SLC16A1 gene and the performance traits in Arabian horses in flat races. It suggests the potential of SLC16A1 gene variations as a predictor for racing performance and optimal race distance for these horses.
Research Goal
- The primary goal of this study is to identify variations (or polymorphisms) in the SLC16A1 gene and 3’ and 5’ untranslated regions (UTRs) in Arabian horses.
- These gene variations are then evaluated for possible association with race performance traits in Arabian horses participating in flat races.
Methods and Participants
- The researchers used RNA-seq data to identify polymorphisms and genotyped them in a sample of 254 racing Arabian horses.
- The genotyping was done using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Polymerase Chain Reaction-High-Resolution Melt (PCR-HRM) methods.
- They conducted an association analysis between the identified gene polymorphisms and racing results.
Key Findings
- The researchers identified novel polymorphisms in the equine SLC16A1 gene, including missense and 5′ untranslated region (UTR) variants.
- The 5’UTR variant displayed a substantial association with several racing results including potential to win first or second place, the number of races started by the horse, and total financial gains from races.
- The distribution of genotypes was found to be race distance-dependent. For shorter distance races, only horses with the TT genotype emerged as winners, while GG and TG genotype horses secured first and second places in middle and long-distance races.
- The share of winning heterozygotes increased from 19.5% to 27% as race distances increased from middle to long.
- The missense variant (g.55601543C > T) showed no significant correlation with analyzed racing results.
Implications
- The findings indicate that the g.55589063 T > G polymorphism influences the likelihood of a horse winning first or second place and competing in more races. Consequently, it could potentially be used to predict optimal race distance for a horse.
- The study forms a groundwork for additional research to validate the SLC16A1 gene’s potential as a marker associated with racing performance.
Cite This Article
APA
Ropka-Molik K, Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Szmatoła T, Piórkowska K, Bugno-Poniewierska M.
(2019).
The use of the SLC16A1 gene as a potential marker to predict race performance in Arabian horses.
BMC Genet, 20(1), 73.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12863-019-0774-4 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Genomics, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1,, 32-083, Balice, Poland. katarzyna.ropka@izoo.krakow.pl.
- Department of Horse Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, University of Agriculture in Cracow, Cracow, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Genomics, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1,, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- University Centre of Veterinary Medicine, University of Agriculture in Cracow, Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059, Cracow, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Genomics, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1,, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, Laboratory of Genomics, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1,, 32-083, Balice, Poland.
- Department of Animals Reproduction, Anatomy and Genomics, University of Agriculture in Cracow, Cracow, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Alleles
- Animals
- Biomarkers
- Gene Frequency
- Genotype
- Horses / genetics
- Monocarboxylic Acid Transporters / genetics
- Physical Functional Performance
- Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
- Symporters / genetics
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Darbandi H, Munsters C, Parmentier J, Havinga P. Detecting fatigue of sport horses with biomechanical gait features using inertial sensors. PLoS One 2023;18(4):e0284554.
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- Stefaniuk-Szmukier M, Szmatoła T, Łątka J, Długosz B, Ropka-Molik K. The Blood and Muscle Expression Pattern of the Equine TCAP Gene during the Race Track Training of Arabian Horses. Animals (Basel) 2019 Aug 18;9(8).
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