Association of TRPV3 gene polymorphisms with wool production traits in Zhexi Angora rabbits

Hair yield is the main economic value of Zhexi Angora rabbit, and it is an important index to measure its productive traits. The TRPV3 gene has been found to be associated with wool yield. This study aims to investigate the correlation between TRPV3 and wool production traits in rabbits, with the goal of improving wool yield. In the current study, flow cytometry and CCK-8 assays were used to investigate the effect of the TRPV3 gene on the proliferation and apoptosis of dermal papilla cells (DPCs) in rabbit hair follicles (HFs). Results showed that the TRPV3 gene regulates the mRNA expression of genes involved in HF development (BMP4, SFRP2, TGF-β1, WNT5a, and STAT1), as detected by qRT-PCR analysis. The core promoter region of TRPV3 was identified through dual luciferase activity tests, and Sanger sequencing was used to detect polymorphisms in both the exonic and promoter regions of TRPV3. The analysis showed a single SNP in the exon region, which had no significant association with wool production. However, five SNPs were detected in the promoter region, with the g.48897415G> A site showing a significant association with wool production in Zhexi Angora rabbits. Moreover, rabbits carrying the AA genotype also showed higher transcriptional activity. The mutation at g.48897415G> A in the promoter region introduced seven extra transcription factors (TFs) (RFX4, RFX3, RFX2, ZNF45, RFX1, Zfp668, and ZNF655). In conclusion, the g.48897415G > A mutation in TRPV3 is significantly associated with wool yield, and the TRPV3 gene inhibits the proliferation of DPCs. This locus can be used as a molecular marker for wool traits in rabbits, allowing early selection and precise breeding of high-wool-yield strains to shorten the breeding cycle and improve efficiency to enhance both the yield and quality of rabbit wool.