Polymorphism of PIT-1 Genes and its Relationship with Traits in the Limousine Cattle Breed

Jarosław Pytlewski1, Ireneusz R. Antkowiak1 and Ewa Czerniawska-Piątkowska2*

1Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland. Złotniki, ul. Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las.

2Department of Ruminant Science, West Pomeranian University of Technology, ul. Klemensa Janickiego 29, 71-270 Szczecin, Poland

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study was to analyse the polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene withe introns 4 and 5 and exon 6 in the Limousine cattle breed and its relation to selected rearing traits. Relationships were determined between the genetic variants of the three polymorphic sites of the PIT-1 gene and the following rearing parameters: body weight at birth, body weight at weaning on day 270, daily weight gain from birth to weaning, age at first calving and body weight after first calving. The frequency of alleles of the analysed loci was: T =0.2887 and G =0.7913 (IVS4-39G>T), A =0.1087 and G =0.8913 (IVS5+438G>A) and A = 0.2913 and G =0.7087 (c.1178G>A). For each of the studied polymorphic sites, homozygotes (-,-) were found least frequently. The results showed relationship between polymorphism in loci IVS5+438G> A and c.1178G>A, and rearing traits. The analysis confirmed significant statistical differences (P ≤ 0.05) between homozygotes (+,+) and heterozygotes (+,-) for the following traits: age at first calving (IVS5+438G>A), weights at weaning (c.1178G> A) and daily weight gain from birth to weaning (c.1178G>A). The most preferable results were found for homozygous (+,+) animals. The mutation in 6 exons 6 proved particularly interesting (c.1178G>A), and the GG genotype was the most advantageous genetic variant.

Article Information

Received 16 November 2019

Revised 02 January 2020

Accepted 09 January 2020

Available online 25 Februay 2021

(early access)

Published 07 January 2022

Authors’ Contribution

JP conceived and designed the study, executed the experimental work. IRA statistically analyzed the data, ECP wrote the article and edited text.

Key words

Limousine cattle breed, Polymorphism of PIT-1 gene

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.17582/journal.pjz/20191116151125

* Corresponding author: ewa.czerniawska-piatkowska@zut.edu.pl

0030-9923/2022/0002-0599 $ 9.00/0

Copyright 2022 Zoological Society of Pakistan

INTRODUCTION

P ituitary transcription factor PIT-1 plays variety of roles, e.g. somatotropic, lactotropic and thyrotropic (Cohen et al., 1996; Herman et al., 2012). It is responsible for the development of the pituitary gland (Joudrey et al., 2003; Shewchuk et al., 2006; Zhang et al., 2010). Mutations in the PIT-1 gene may cause deficiency of the pituitary hormones (Li et al., 1990; Pfäffle et al., 1992). In turn, Franco et al. (2005) suggested that polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene may be used as a marker of for phenotypic traits related to the functioning of the growth hormone. According to Oprządek et al. (2004), PIT-1 in cattle is an excellent potential QTL affecting growth and composition of the carcass.

The aim of the study was to analyse polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene with introns 4 and 5 and  exon 6 in the Limousine cattle breed and its relation to selected rearing traits.

MATERIALs AND METHODS

The analysis covered 115 individuals of the Limousine female breed kept in a farm in the Wielkopolska region (Poland). The animals were kept in the loose housing system without free access to the pasture. The diet was balanced according to the INRA system. In order to determine gene polymorphism of the selected PIT-1 loci blood samples were collected from the jugular vein. The study was based on the analysis of three polymorphic sites in the PIT-1 gene located on one chromosome. The characteristics of the polymorphic sites analysed are presented in Table I.

 

Table I. Characteristics of the polymorphic analytical sites in PIT-1 gene.

Gene	locus	Site of mutation	Type of mutation
PIT-1	IVS4-39G>T	Intron 4	G → T
	IVS5+438g>A	Intron 5	G → A
	c.1178G>A	Exon 6	G → A

 

Table II. Primer sequences for amplification of fragment of PIT-1 gene fragments.

Gene	Primer	PCR primer sequences (5’ – 3’)	Source material
PIT-1	PIT-114F	5’- AGGATACACCCAGACAAATG - 3’	Zhao et al. (2004)
	PIT-114R	5’- TACTGATTGTTGTTCTCCGT - 3’
	PIT-115F	5’- TCCTTCTCCAGGAGATCTTCC - 3’	This study
	PIT-115R	5’-GTCCCCCAGAACTCAGGTTAT - 3’
	PIT-1E6F	5’- AAACCATCATCTCCCTTCTT - 3’	Wollard et al. (1994)
	PIT-1E6R	5’- AATGTACAATGTCCTTCTGAG - 3’

 

Isolation of genetic material

DNA was isolated from peripheral blood made by the phenol method (Sambrook et al., 1989).

PCR amplification of the PIT-1 gene

The DNA fragment of interest was amplified in a  TGradient thermocycler (Biometria) using primer sequences as shown in the Table II.

The reaction mixture in a volume of 15 µ l contained: 100 ng genomic DNA, 0.6 U Taq polymerase, 10 pmol of each primer, 1.5mM MgCl2, 200 µM dNTPs, 1.5 µl PCR buffer - (NH 4)2 SO4 (10x) and 0.75 µl DMSO. 

The thermal cycle comprised initial denaturation for loci IVS4 - 39G>T, IVS5 + 438g>A and c.1178G>A of 97 °C, 94 °C and 95 °C, respectively, for 300 sec.  It was followed by, 30 cycles of denaturation (IVS4-39G>T, 95 °C/30 s, IVS5+438G>A, 94 °C/30 s and c.1178G>A, 95 °C/30 s), annealing (IVS4-39G>T; 58.2 °C/30 s, IVS5 + 438G>A; 59 °C/30 s and c.1178G>A; 51 °C/30 s) and extension (72 °C/50 s), followed by final elongation (72 °C/300 s).

The amplification products were digested in a restriction enzyme buffer at a specific temperature using a buffer for 3 h. For locus IVS4-39G>T the restriction MvaI enzyme in the R buffer was used, the reaction temperature was 37 °C. For locus IVS5+438g>A the TaqI, TaqI buffer was used at process temperature of 65 °C. For locus c.1178G>A is the Hinf I enzyme in the R buffer was used at the reaction temperature of 37 °C. The composition of the reaction mixture (11µl) per sample was as follows: 5µl of the PCR product, 1 µl of the respective restriction enzyme at a concentration of 10 U/µl (Fermentas), 1 µl enzyme buffer (Fermentas) and 4 µl H2O.

After restriction enzyme digestion of each sample the reaction mixture was supplemented with 2 µl of loading buffer µ - gel loading solution type I, 6x. Afterwards the digestion products were identified by electrophoresis in a 3% agarose gel (BASICA GQT, Prona) in 1 x TBE buffer. The Gene Ruler DNA Ladder Mix was used to a mixture consisting of 2μl of the loading buffer, 1.5μl of the DNA marker and 10.5μl of H2O. Loci IVS4-39G>T, IVS5+438G>A and c. 1178G>A, the electrophoresis time and the voltage applied were 55 min and 150 V, 45 min and 150 V, 35 min and 140 V, respectively. The digestion products were examined under UV light.

Identification of genotypes

The amplified fragments of the PIT-1 gene were 980 bp (IVS4-39G>T), 302 bp (IVS5 + 438G>A) and 451 bp (c.1178G>A). Next the genotypes were identified:

-locus IVS4-39G>T; TT (-,-) - 980 bp (un recognised by the restriction enzyme), GT (-,+) - fragments of 104 bp, 876 bp and 980 bp and GG (+,+) fragments of 104 bp and 876 bp,

-locus IVS5+438G>A; AA (-,-) - 302 bp (un recognised by the restriction enzyme), AG (-,+) - fragments of 21 bp , 281 bp and 302 bp and GG (+,+) - fragments of 21 bp and 281bp,

-locus c.1178G>A; AA (-,-) - 451 bp (un recognised by the restriction enzyme), AG (-,+) - fragments of 207 bp, 244 bp and 451 bp and GG (+,+) - fragments of 207 bp and 244 bp.

Statistical analysis

A detailed analysis of the results was based on the following calculations: the actual and theoretical frequency of genotypes, gene frequency and the observed and expected number of individuals for general gene polymorphisms according to the Hardy-Weinberg  equilibrium. The χ2 test was applied in the statistical calculations.

The study investigated  the relationship between genetic variants of the three polymorphic PIT-1 genes and selected rearing parameters for females.  The following rearing traits were analysed: body weight at birth (kg), body weight at weaning at 270 days (kg), daily weight gain from birth to weaning (g), age at the first calving (days) and body weight after first calving (kg). Due to the small number of homozygotes (-,-) and the lack of complete source information necessary to estimate the relationship between polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene and breeding parameters  data from heterozygotes (+,-) and homozygotes (+,+) were used in statistical calculations for each locus. The statistical calculations were conducted using the SAS® (2013) statistical package applying the. MEANS and GLM procedures. The significance of the effect of experimental factors on the studied rearing traits was estimated using a multivariate covariance analysis according to the following linear model:

Y ijklmnop = µ + g i + y j + s k + f l + PIT-1I4 m + PIT-1I5 n + PIT-1E6 o + e ijklmnop

where Y ijklmnop is the phenotypic value of the analysed trait; µ is population average, gi is fixed effect of the share of Limousine genes (i =1,.., 2); yj is the fixed effect of the calving year (j=1, .., 5); s k is fixed effect of the calving season (k=1, ..., 4); f l is fixed effect of the sire (l = 1, ..., 26); PIT is 1I4 m - fixed effect of genotype locus IVS4-39G> T (m = 1,2); PIT is 1I5 n - fixed effect of genotype locus IVS5 + 438G> A (n = 1,2); PIT-1E6o- fixed effect of genotype locus c.1178G> A (o = 1,2,) and e ijklmnop is random error.

A detailed comparison of the object-oriented means was carried out using the Duncan multiple range test.

RESULTS

Tables III, IV and V contain the results regarding the frequency of alleles and the actual and theoretical distribution of genotypes at IVS4-39G>T, IVS5+438G>A and c.1178G>A, respectively, and the observed and expected number of individuals in the studied population of Limousine cows. It was shown that the frequency of alleles in the analysed loci was: T = 0.2087 and G = 0.7913 (IVS4-39G>T), A = 0.1087 and G = 0.8913 (IVS5+438G>A), A = 0.2913 and G = 0.7087 (c.1178G>A).

 In the investigated group of cows, the lowest number of homozygotes were found as undigested with the restriction enzymes (-,-): TT (IVS4-39G>T), AA (IVS5+438G>A) and AA (c.1178G>A).  The studied population of the Limousine cattle was found to reach the genetic equilibrium.

Table III. Frequency of alleles in locus IVS4-39G>T and also the actual and theoretical distribution of genotypes as well as the observed and expected number of individuals in studied population of cows.

Traits	Locus IVS4-39G>T
	Genotype				∑
	TT	GT		GG
Observed number of cows	1	46		68	115
Theoretical number of cows	5	38		72	115
Actual frequency of genotypes	0,0087	0,4000		0,5913	1,000
Theoretical frequency of genotypes	0,0436	0,3303		0,6261	1,000
χ2	3,2083	1,6923		0,2232	5,1238
Frequency of alleles	T = 0,2087		G = 0,7913		1,000

 

**, P ≤ 0,01; *, P ≤ 0,05

 

Table IV. Frequency of alleles in locus IVS5+438G>A and also the actual and theoretical distribution of genotypes as well as the observed and expected number of individuals in studied population of cows.

Traits	Locus IVS5+438G>A
	Genotype			∑
	AA	AG	GG
Observed number of cows	2	21	92	115
Theoretical number of cows	1	22	91	115
Actual frequency of genotypes	0,0174	0,1826	0,800	1,000
Theoretical frequency of genotypes	0,0118	0,1938	0,7944	1,000
χ2	0,3027	0,0738	0,0045	0,3810
Frequency of alleles	A = 0,1087	G = 0,8913		1,000

 

**, P ≤ 0,01; *, P ≤ 0,05

 

Table V. Frequency of alleles in locus c.1178G>A and also the actual and theoretical distribution of genotypes as well as the observed and expected number of individuals in studied population of cows.

Traits	Locus c.1178G>A
	Genotype			∑
	AA	AG	GG
Observed number of cows	11	45	59	115
Theoretical number of cows	10	47	58	115
Actual frequency of genotypes	0,0957	0,3913	0,5130	1,000
Theoretical frequency of genotypes	0,0849	0,4129	0,5022	1,000
χ2	0,1579	0,1298	0,0267	0,3144
Frequency of alleles	A = 0,2913	G = 0,7087		1,000

 

**, P ≤ 0.01; *, P ≤ 0.05

 

Table VI. Selected rearing traits of Limousine females depending on the genotype genotype at loci IVS4-39G>T. IVS5+438G> A and c.1178G>A.

Locus	Genotype	N	Traits
			Body weight at birth (kg)	Body weight at weaning (kg)	Daily weight gain from birth to weaning (g)	Age at first calving (days)	Body weight at first calving (kg)
			Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ± SD	Mean ±SD
IVS4-39G>T	GT	46	36.5±2.6	229.4±12.6	935±95	959±118	537.3±38.5
	GG	68	35.8±3.2	243.3±22.4	982±107	992±117	541.3±30.4
IVS5+438G>A	AG	21	34.7±3.6	229.0±16.6	957±114	1031±113a	530.5±51.4
	GG	92	36.4±2.6	238.0±19.6	964±94	972±118b	541.0±55.2
c.1178G>A	AG	45	35.4±3.5	228.4±15.9a	916±88a	994±130	540.2±58.4
	GG	59	36.5±2.5	249.5±16.9b	1029±83b	981±108	534.2±68.3

 

a. b, values in a column with different letters differ significantly (P≤0.05).

Table VI presents selected rearing traits of Limousine females taking into account their genotype in loci IVS4-39G>T, IVS5+438G>A and c.1178G>A. The analysis showed statistically significant differences (P ≤0.05) between homozygotes (+,+) and heterozygotes (+,-) for the following traits: age at the first calving (locus) IVS5+438G>A ), body weight at weaning (locus c.1178G>A) and daily weight gain from birth to weaning (c.1178G>A). It was found that for the traits mentioned above within the specified loci the most advantageous results were obtained for homozygotes (+,+). A younger age at first calving was recorded for the GG animals (IVS5+438G>A). A greater body weigh at weaning and a higher daily weight gain in the period from birth to weaning were found for animals with the GG genotype locus c.1178G>A.

DISCUSSION

Mutations of the PIT-1 gene in introns 4 and 5 and exon 6 were studied in Angus cattle by Zhao et al. (2004). In the case of a locus IVS4-39G>T a  higher share (0.47 and 0.12) was found for heterozygotes ( +,-) and homozygotes (-,-), at a lower share (0.41) of homozygotes (+,+) compared to the results obtained in this study.  When analysing mutations in intron 5 those authors found no homozygous individuals (-,-), while the frequency of homozygotes (+,+) was 0.91. In contrast, a similar frequency of alleles for the polymorphic site of the PIT-1 gene located in the same intron was  reported in cattle of four Chinese breeds and the Holstein breed by Yang et al. (2011).

For locus c.1178G>A Zhao et al. (2004) showed a similar frequency (0.44 and 0.45) of the genotypes for heterozygotes (+,-) and homozygotes (+,+). In a study of Dybus et al. (2003) conducted on Limousine cows the frequency of the AA genotype (0.0692) and allele A (0.2731) was slightly lower compared to those in this study. Similarly, low frequencies of allele A in the Qinchuan (0.23), Black-and-White (0.24) and Piemontese (0.25) were recorded by Zhang et al. (2009), Dybus et al. (2004) and Di Stasio et al. (2002), respectively. In contrast, a very low frequency of allele A at 0.05 was found in Gyr cattle by De Mattos et al. (2004)). Similarly, a low small share of AA genetic variants (6.93%) for this polymorphic site in beef cattle breeds originating from China was given by Li et al. (2009). In turn, a higher frequency of the allele A (0.30) in Podolica cattle was found by Selvaggi and Cataldo (2011), Xue et al. (2006) in Nanyang cattle showed the frequency of alleles A and G to be 0.465 and 0.535, respectively. In contrast, in Belgian-Blu cattle the predominant frequency of allele A (0.53) over G (0.47) was reported by Renaville et al. (1997a).

In their study Zhao et al. (2004) found no relationship between the polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene in the region from intron 2 to exon 6 and growth and carcass traits in Angus cattle. Similarly, in Limousine cows Dybus et al. (2003) showed no significant dependencies between genotypes at locus c.1178G>A, and height at the withers, height at sacrum and girth circumference at 3, 210 and 365 days old. In that study, the authors also reported no statistically significant differences in daily gains weight from 3 to 210 and 365 days of age in animals with different genetic variant locus c.1178G>A. However, Renaville et al. (1997b) found a positive relationship between the allele G and weight at 7 months of age in Belgian Blue  bulls. Similarly, Xue et al. (2006) in Nanyang cattle  showed a more beneficial influence of the GG genotype on birth weight, body weight gains up to 12 months of age as well as body length and circumference in animals at 6 and 12 months of age.  Those authors suggested that allele G may play an essential role in body growth characteristics.  The findings were consistent with the results given by Selvaggi et al. (2011) for the Podolica breed and and Yang et al. (2011) who were looking for a gene responsible for growth traits in Chinese cattle breeds. In turn, Zhang et al. (2009) in the group of Germany Yellow x Qinchua hybrids in the AG heterozygote compared to the GG homozygotes found a higher body mass and greater height at the withers. In their study Oprządek et al. (2003) found that in Black-and-White cattle, the GG homozygotes consumed less feed and its components than the heterozygotes AG, while there was no statistically significant relationship between the genotypes and weight of meat, fat and bone in bulls at the age of 15 months. Oprządek et al. (2006) also showed the effect of the interaction between LEP and PIT-1 genes on the performance traits of slaughtered Black-and-White bulls.  The greatest body weight before slaughter was recorded for animals with the AB x GG genotype and the most advantageous carcass value and concentration of fat obtained individuals genotype BB x GG. Also, the results of analyses by Sang-Hyun et al. (2010) suggested that the polymorphism of the PIT-1 gene in exon 6 may have an effect on body mass and fat content in the Hanwoo bulls.

Some studies demonstrated no association between polymorphisms in the gene PIT-1 and production traits in beef cattle (Di Stasio et al., 2002; Rogério et al., 2006; Pan et al., 2008). 

CONCLUSION

The results obtained in our analyses may indicate the relationship between the PIT-1 gene polymorphism and rearing traits in Limousine cattle. In terms of body weight at weaning and daily weight gain from birth to weaning, a mutation in exon 6 (c.1178G>A) proved to be particularly interesting, with the GG genotype being the most advantageous genetic variant. At the same time, the results need to be considered preliminary. To confirm these findings further research is required on a larger population of animals, taking into account a larger number of cattle breeds.

Statement of conflict of interest

The authors declare there is no conflict of interest.

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