Aim:The biogeography of European forests presents many interesting case studies, as inferred from phylogeography, contemporary population genetics, and distribution
Przewalski horses are considered the last living population of wild horses, however, they are secondarily feral offspring of herds domesticated ~ 5000 years ago by the Botai culture. After Przewalski horses were almost extinct at the beginning of the twentieth century, their population is about 2500 individuals worldwide, with one of the largest breeding centers in Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine). The research aimed to establish the maternal variation of Przewalski horses population maintained in Askania-Nova Reserve based on mitochondrial DNA hypervariable 1 and hypervariable 2 regions profiling, as well as, analysis of Y chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism unique for Przewalski horses, and coat color markers: MC1R and TBX3. The mtDNA hypervariable regions analysis in 23 Przewalski horses allowed assigning them to three distinctly different haplotypes, showing the greatest similarity to the Equus caballus reference, the Equus przewalskii reference, and to extinct species—Haringtonhippus. The Y chromosome analysis using fluorescently labelled assays differentiated horses in terms of polymorphism (g731821T>C) characteristic of Equus przewalskii. All male individuals presented genotype C characteristics for Przewalski horses. The polymorphisms within the coat color genes indicated only native, wild genotypes. The Y chromosome and coat color analysis denied admixtures of the tested horses with other Equidae.
In this study, a molecular characterisation of the PLN gene with whole genome sequencing (WGS) and complete transcriptome sequencing data was performed on 868 horses, supported by Sanger sequencing and the PCR-RFLP method. The PLN gene encodes phospholamban – an integral membrane protein – and while phosphorylated inhibits the SR Ca2+-ATPase (SERCA) transport of Ca2+ into reticulum in the cardiac and skeletal muscles. According to the current knowledge, we hypothesised that the presence of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PLN gene sequence may be related to an individual's lifestyle and would remain under selection pressure. The obtained results indicated the occurrence of 14 polymorphisms of which 7 were upstream, and 7 downstream PLN gene variants according to the EquCan3.0 reference. The mRNA sequencing confirmed the presence of 3' and 5' UTR regions belonging to the PLN transcript that was in accordance with EquCab2.0, and was missed in the current version. The comparison of two reference genomes and the validation of the NGS data allowed for the 3'UTR variant (rs1146603334) to be detected, showing differences in the genotype and allele distributions across five horse breeds. A similar genotype frequency in warmblood breeds of horses (Arabians and Thoroughbreds), compared to native and heavy horses (Polish Konik, Draft and Hucul horses), indicated that this locus was under selection pressure.
Przewalski horses are considered the last living population of wild horses, however, they are secondarily feral offspring of herds domesticated about 5000 years ago by the Botai culture. After Przewalski horses were almost extinct at the beginning of the 20th century, their population is about 2500 individuals worldwide, with one of the largest breeding centers in the Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve (Ukraine).The research aimed to analyse the genetic structure of Przewalski horses population maintained in the Askania-Nova Reserve, as well as establish maternal ancestry based on whole hypervariable mitochondrial DNA region profiling, analysis of Y chromosome single nucleotide polymorphism unique for Przewalski horses, and coat color markers - MC1R (‘fox’), TBX3 (Dun).The mtDNA hypervariable region analysis in 23 Przewalski horses allowed assigning them to three distinctly different haplotypes, showing the greatest similarity to the Equus caballus reference, the Equus przewalskii reference, and to extinct species - Haringtonhippus. The Y chromosome analysis using fluorescently labelled assays (FAM and VIC) differentiated horses in terms of polymorphism (MH341179.1, g731821T>C) characteristic of the species Equus caballus and Equus przewalskii. All 13 male individuals presented genotype C characteristics for Przewalski horses. The polymorphisms within genes related coat color confirmed the presence of primitive genetic variants in Przewalski horses: polymorphism of MC1R gene (ECA3g.36259552C>T) assigned all horses to the genotype with C/C alleles; the two TBX3 polymorphisms (chr8:18,227,267+1,066G>T, chr8:18,226,905A>G) assigned all horses to the genotype with G/G alleles in both loci; and in the third TBX3 1.6 kb in/del polymorphism (chr8:18,227,267) deletions were not observed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.