Sequence-based GWAS and post-GWAS analyses reveal a key role of SLC37A1, ANKH, and regulatory regions on bovine milk mineral content

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 6;11(1):7537. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87078-1.

Abstract

The mineral composition of bovine milk plays an important role in determining its nutritional and cheese-making value. Concentrations of the main minerals predicted from mid-infrared spectra produced during milk recording, combined with cow genotypes, provide a unique opportunity to decipher the genetic determinism of these traits. The present study included 1 million test-day predictions of Ca, Mg, P, K, Na, and citrate content from 126,876 Montbéliarde cows, of which 19,586 had genotype data available. All investigated traits were highly heritable (0.50-0.58), with the exception of Na (0.32). A sequence-based genome-wide association study (GWAS) detected 50 QTL (18 affecting two to five traits) and positional candidate genes and variants, mostly located in non-coding sequences. In silico post-GWAS analyses highlighted 877 variants that could be regulatory SNPs altering transcription factor (TF) binding sites or located in non-coding RNA (mainly lncRNA). Furthermore, we found 47 positional candidate genes and 45 TFs highly expressed in mammary gland compared to 90 other bovine tissues. Among the mammary-specific genes, SLC37A1 and ANKH, encoding proteins involved in ion transport were located in the most significant QTL. This study therefore highlights a comprehensive set of functional candidate genes and variants that affect milk mineral content.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle / genetics
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation / genetics
  • Genome-Wide Association Study / methods
  • Genotype
  • Lactation / genetics*
  • Lactation / metabolism
  • Lactation / physiology
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Milk / chemistry*
  • Minerals / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins / genetics
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins / metabolism
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Quantitative Trait, Heritable

Substances

  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Minerals
  • Phosphate Transport Proteins