Affiliations: Poultry Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory,
Department of Poultry Science and Institute of Bioinformatics, University of
Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2772, USA
Note: [] Corresponding author: Department of Poultry Science, University
of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-2772, USA. Tel.: +1 706 542 1354; Fax: +1 706 542
1827; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: This study was undertaken to identify novel candidate genes at
quantitative trait loci (QTL) on chicken chromosome Z (GGAZ) by comparing
orthologous regions of chicken, human and mouse genomes. Primer sequences from
marker flanking QTL positions (https://acedb.asg.wur.nl/) were obtained from
www.iastate.edu/chickmap and blasted against the chicken genome
(www.ensembl.org) using BLASTN. The best matches were those with the highest
score, lowest E-values and highest percent identity. Orthologous regions in
mice and humans, together with genes located on or around those loci were
identified using the Ensembl website. Forty-six chicken genes, 91 mouse genes
and 60 human genes associated with QTL on GGAZ were identified in the current
study. Among the most promising candidate genes for egg production and egg
shell quality are annexin A1 (ANXA1), osteoclast stimulating factor (OSF),
thrombospondin-4 (THBS4), programmed cell death proteins (PDCD), follistatin
(FST), growth hormone receptor (GHR), interferon (IFN) α and β. The
chicken IFN α and β were located on GGAZ around position 13,000,000
bp on the draft chicken sequence map. The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine
receptor (nAChR) is located at a QTL region for abdominal fat (GGAZ 25483091
bp). Nicotine is an agonist at the nAChRs and has been shown to decrease
lipolysis and triglyceride uptake, thereby reducing net storage in adipose
tissue. Therefore, the nAchRs could be used as therapeutic targets for
regulating feed intake and obesity. This study has identified 197 putative
candidate genes in probable QTL regions of chicken chromosome Z.
