Copy Number Variation of the PIGY Gene in Sheep and Its Association Analysis with Growth Traits

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The PIGY (phosphatidylinositol glycan anchor biosynthesis class Y) gene is a member of the PIG gene family and encodes the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase (GPI-GnT) complex. It initiates the biosynthesis of GPI and plays an important role in cell–cell interactions. Sequencing has revealed a 3600 bp copy number variation (CNV) in exon 2 of the PIGY gene in sheep, potentially altering a functional part of the protein. The CNV overlaps 28 quantitative trait loci that are relevant to some economic traits like muscle density and carcass weight. We screened for this CNV of the PIGY gene in 569 individuals, namely, 240 Chaka sheep (CKS), 168 Hu sheep (HS), and 161 small-tailed Han sheep (STHS), and analyzed the association between the presence of this CNV and sheep body size traits. The results showed that the loss-type CNV was more prevalent than other types in these three breeds, and there were significant effects of the PIGY gene CNV on body weight, chest circumference, and circumference of cannon bone of sheep. The results showed that sheep with gain-type CNV had better growth traits than those with other types. The findings reveal the relationship between the CNV of the PIGY gene and growth traits of sheep, suggesting that CNV could be utilized for improved molecular breeding of sheep. ABSTRACT: Copy number variation (CNV) is a type of genomic variation with an important effect on animal phenotype. We found that the PIGY gene contains a 3600 bp copy number variation (CNV) region located in chromosome 6 of sheep (Oar_v4.0 36,121,601–36,125,200 bp). This region overlaps with multiple quantitative trait loci related to phenotypes like muscle density and carcass weight. Therefore, in this study, the copy number variation of the PIGY gene was screened in three Chinese sheep breeds, namely, Chaka sheep (CKS, May of 2018, Wulan County, Qinghai Province, China), Hu sheep (HS, May of 2015, Mengjin County, Henan Province, China), and small-tailed Han sheep (STHS, May of 2016, Yongjing, Gansu Province, China). Association analyses were performed on the presence of CNV and sheep body size traits. We used real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to detect the CNV for association analysis. According to the results, the loss-type CNV was more common than other types in the three breeds (global average: loss = 61.5%, normal = 17.5%, and gain = 21.0%). The association analysis also showed significant effects of the PIGY gene CNV on body weight, chest circumference, and circumference of the cannon bone of sheep. Sheep with gain-type CNV had better growth traits than those with other types. The results indicate a clear relationship between the PIGY gene CNV and growth traits of sheep, suggesting the use of CNV as a new molecular breeding marker.