Whole‐genome sequencing study to identify candidate markers indicating susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in Bama miniature pigs

BACKGROUND: Hundreds of single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites have been found to be potential genetic markers of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, SNPs related to T2DM in minipigs have been less reported. This study aimed to screen the T2DM‐susceptible candidate SNP loci in Bama minipigs so as to improve the success rate of the minipig T2DM model. METHODS: The genomic DNAs of three Bama minipigs with T2DM, six sibling low‐susceptibility minipigs with T2DM, and three normal control minipigs were compared by whole‐genome sequencing. The T2DM Bama minipig‐specific loci were obtained, and their functions were annotated. Meanwhile, the Biomart software was used to perform homology alignment with T2DM‐related loci obtained from the human genome‐wide association study to screen candidate SNP markers for T2DM in Bama miniature pigs. RESULTS: Whole‐genome resequencing detected 6960 specific loci in the minipigs with T2DM, and 13 loci corresponding to 9 diabetes‐related genes were selected. Further, a set of 122 specific loci in 69 orthologous genes of human T2DM candidate genes were obtained in the pigs. Collectively, a batch of T2DM‐susceptible candidate SNP markers in Bama minipigs, covering 16 genes and 135 loci, was established. CONCLUSIONS: Whole‐genome sequencing and comparative genomics analysis of the orthologous genes in pigs that corresponded to the human T2DM‐related variant loci successfully screened out T2DM‐susceptible candidate markers in Bama miniature pigs. Using these loci to predict the susceptibility of the pigs before constructing an animal model of T2DM may help to establish an ideal animal model.