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Significance of KLK7 expression, polymorphisms, and function in sheep horn growth
Mingzhu Shan1,2, Hao Li1, Xinyue Li1
1State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing, 100193, China.
BMC Genomics
|January 28, 2025
Summary
Kallikrein-7 (KLK7) gene expression is higher in small-horned sheep, suggesting it inhibits horn growth. Genetic variations in KLK7 are linked to sheep horn length, offering insights into horn development.
Area of Science:
- Genomics and Molecular Biology
- Animal Science and Genetics
Background:
- Sheep horns are crucial for survival and reproduction, and understanding their development is key to breeding hornless varieties.
- While KLK7 is linked to keratin growth, its specific role in sheep horns remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between the KLK7 gene and sheep horn characteristics.
- To analyze KLK7 expression, genetic variations, and functional implications in sheep horns.
Main Methods:
- RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to assess KLK7 gene expression across species, breeds, tissues, and genders.
- Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to identify functional sites and genetic polymorphisms (SNPs).
- Association analysis linking WGS data with sheep horn length, validated by KASP genotyping.
Main Results:
- KLK7 showed high expression in soft horn and skin tissues, with significantly higher levels in small-horned sheep.
- Two specific SNPs (g.56695395 T>C and g.56695484A>C) in KLK7 were associated with allele-specific expression and significantly impacted horn length.
- Eight amino acid positions in KLK7 may regulate horn size in ruminants.
Conclusions:
- KLK7 expression is inversely correlated with sheep horn size, suggesting an inhibitory role in horn growth.
- Identified SNPs in KLK7 provide genetic markers for horn length and offer insights into horn development regulation.
- This study establishes a strong association between KLK7 and sheep horn length, highlighting its potential in breeding strategies.
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