A functional promoter region of the CKLFSF2 gene is located in the last intron/exon region of the upstream CKLFSF1 gene

Goat CMTM2: mRNA expression profiles of different alternative spliced variants and associations analyses with growth traits

CKLF like MARVEL transmembrane domain containing 2 (CMTM2) plays crucial roles in spermiogenesis, skeletogenous, growth, and development through PI3K/Akt and other pathways. The purpose of this study was to explore the expression profile and variation of different spliced CMTM2 gene in Shaanbei white cashmere goats, as well as to find the relationships between a CMTM2 promoter region 14 bp genetic variant and growth traits in 1366 Shaanbei white cashmere goats. In this study, we identified alternative CMTM2 splicing and detected the effects of the spliced variants on mRNA expression levels in tissues. Meanwhile, an unreported spliced variant of CMTM2 in goat was identified using in CDS cloning and RT-PCR, namely, CMTM2-AS2. Compared with the normal transcript (CMTM2-AS1), the novel variant had the higher expression level in muscle and liver tissues, indicating that it plays an effective role in growth traits. Furthermore, a 14 bp deletion was detected within CMTM2 promoter region, and the different genotypes were significantly associated with growth traits (e.g., body length, circumference of cannon bone) in the large group of 1366 individuals in Shaanbei white cashmere goats. We found that the body length of the individuals with II (n = 571) genotype had better phenotypes than those with DD (n = 118) and ID (n = 650) genotypes. These results have direct guiding significance for goat breeding in the future and provide a new idea for studying the characteristics and functions of CMTM2 gene in goats.

Integrating haplotypes and single genetic variability effects of the Pax7 gene on growth traits in two cattle breeds

The paired box 7 (Pax7) gene encoding for the transcription factor can regulate the conversion of stem cells into myogenic cells and participate in the development and regeneration of skeletal muscle. The aims of this study were to detect variations of the Pax7 gene by DNA pool sequencing and aCRS-RFLP methods in 1441 cattle from five breeds and to investigate their associations with growth traits in Nanyang and Chinese red steppe cattle. Altogether, three novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the last intron of the Pax7 gene: NC_007300: ss1 (g. G103688A), ss2 (g. T103735C), and ss3 (g. A103764T). Genotypes and the referring haplotype frequencies showed a high similarity trend among five breeds, and the G, T, and A allele frequencies of the three loci were always superior when separate or in combination. Association analysis of the single SNPs and haplotype combinations revealed that the T allele of ss2 and ss3 loci and the haplotype H(2)H(2) (GG-TT-TT) showed significant effects on growth traits such as body height, body mass, and chest girth in cattle at early stages (6 and 12 months old) (P < 0.05). The results showed that Pax7 gene variations and their corresponding genotypes may be considered as molecular markers for economic traits in cattle breeding.

Molecular cloning and identification of mouse Cklfsf2a and Cklfsf2b, two homologues of human CKLFSF2

Human chemokine-like factor superfamily (CKLFSF) is a novel gene family comprising CKLF and CKLFSF1-8. Among them, CKLFSF2 is highly expressed in testis and may play important roles in male reproduction. Besides, it is very active during evolution and has two counterparts in mouse. For further study, we cloned the two mouse genes by EST assembly and RT-PCR methods and designated them as mouse Cklfsf2a and Cklfsf2b. Their predicted open-reading frames (ORFs) that encode 169 and 210 amino acids, respectively, were obtained; and their predicted full-length molecular sizes that are approximately 1.2 kb for mCklfsf2a and 0.9 kb for mCklfsf2b were confirmed by Northern blot analysis. Mouse Cklfsf2a and Cklfsf2b show similarities with human CKLFSF2 in the expression patterns that are abundant in testis, hematopoietic and immune tissues; as well as in the chromosome localizations that neighbor CKLFSF1 and 3. Their putative protein products have 47.6 and 45.5% identities with hCKLFSF2, respectively; both of them contain four potential transmembrane regions and MARVEL domains, which are also similar with hCKLFSF2. Functionally, they all can affect the transcriptional activity of androgen receptor in PC-3 and HeLa cells, but mCklfsf2a is a repressor while mCklfsf2b and hCKLFSF2 are enhancers. Taken together, we conclude that mouse Cklfsf2a and Cklfsf2b are two homologues of human CKLFSF2. Studies on them would provide much help in further investigation of the latter.