Genetic Variations and Haplotypic Diversity in the Myostatin Gene of Different Cattle Breeds in Russia

Abstract

The myostatin gene (MSTN) in cattle has a number of polymorphisms associated with increased muscle mass. The aim of the current study was to determine the haplotype frequencies of F94L and nt821(del11) MSTN polymorphisms among cattle bred for meat in Russia, using DNA analysis. Using the earlier created test systems based on the AS-PCR and PCR-RFLP methods, six populations of Aberdeen Angus (n = 684), two populations of Limousin (n = 54), one population of Simmental (n = 55), and one population of Belgian Blue (n = 137) belonging to Russian farms were genotyped on nt821(del11) and F94LMSTN polymorphisms. The animal carriers of the mutant allele of nt821(del11)MSTN associated with the double-muscling genetic defect were found in one Aberdeen Angus population at a frequency of 2.18%, but were not found in the Limousin and Simmental populations. However, 100% of the Belgian Blue population were heterozygous carriers of nt821(del11)MSTN. The frequencies of the A allele F94LMSTN desirable for productivity traits in the Limousin populations were the highest and accounted for 0.97 and 1 in populations one and two, while in the Aberdeen Angus, Simmental, and Belgian Blue populations, these figures were considerably lower at 0.04-0.08, depending on the population. The obtained data show the high genetic potential of Russian beef cattle, and facilitate an improvement in meat productivity by preserving the health of animals.

Keywords: Aberdeen Angus; Belgian Blue breed; F94L polymorphism; Limousin; Simmental; beef cattle; double-muscling; mutations; myostatin gene; nt821(del11).

Figure 1

Schemes of DNA tests for MSTN polymorphisms genotyping. (a) Scheme of nt821(del11) MSTN genotyping test system: in yellow—forward primer (MSTNF), in green—reverse primer for the amplification of the wildtype allele (MSNTRn), in blue—reverse primer for the amplification of the mutant allele (MSTNRm). The 11 bp deletion is indicated by the capital letters in bold; (b) Scheme of F94L MSTN genotyping test system: in yellow—forward primer (F94LF), in green—reverse primer (F94LR). Restriction site for TaqI endonuclease is indicated by arrow.

Figure 1

Schemes of DNA tests for MSTN polymorphisms genotyping. (a) Scheme of nt821(del11) MSTN genotyping test system: in yellow—forward primer (MSTNF), in green—reverse primer for the amplification of the wildtype allele (MSNTRn), in blue—reverse primer for the amplification of the mutant allele (MSTNRm). The 11 bp deletion is indicated by the capital letters in bold; (b) Scheme of F94L MSTN genotyping test system: in yellow—forward primer (F94LF), in green—reverse primer (F94LR). Restriction site for TaqI endonuclease is indicated by arrow.

Figure 2

Electropherogram of genotyping for M1 MSTN mutation. The wildtype allele is the upper fragment of 310 bp and the mutant allele is the lower fragment of 144 bp. The first five lines correspond to the animal carriers of nt821(del11) MSTN mutation and the further four lines to the animals free from the mutation.

Figure 3

Electropherogram of F94L MSTN genotyping. Wildtype allele C was restricted with the generation of two DNA fragments of 118 and 92 bp. Mutant allele A was not restricted and presented only one DNA fragment of 210 bp.

Figure 4

Results of the Sanger sequencing of PCR products of nt821(del11) MSTN genotyping: (a) animal free from the mutation (M1F); (b) animal carriers of the mutation (M1C).

Figure 5

Results of the Sanger sequencing of PCR products of F94L MSTN genotyping: (a) animal free from the mutation (CC genotype); (b) heterozygous animal (CA genotype).

Figure 6

Image of the two-way ANOVA of the studied populations of Aberdeen Angus (AA), Limousin (LM), and Simmental (SI) cattle breeds. Nt821WT—wildtype allele of nt821(del11) polymorphism, F94LA—A allele of F94L MSTN polymorphism.