Polymorphisms and haplotypes of the myostatin gene associated with growth in juvenile red sea breamPagrus major

Abstract

Polymorphisms of the myostatin gene (MSTN) have been studied in vertebrates including several aquaculture species, revealing their role in growth. We attempted to identify polymorphisms in MSTN associated with growth traits of juvenile farmed red sea bream Pagrus major, an important cultured fish species in Japan. Polymorphisms in the coding region of MSTN were screened, and six polymorphisms were found among three exons: a deletion in exon 1, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in exon 2 and four SNPs in exon 3. The deletion in exon 1 eliminated a codon (glutamine) from the region comprising the polyglutamine structure, but all SNPs were synonymous. We analysed the polymorphisms for association with growth phenotype in large and small P. major specimens obtained from commercial production at 50 days post hatching. Two SNPs located in exon 3 (c.+846T>C and c.+1140T>C) were significantly more frequent in the large group, while no SNPs were significantly associated with the small phenotype. Haplotypes were reconstructed using genotype information of the two phenotype groups, and nine haplotypes (Hap_1 to Hap_9) were successfully reconstructed. Hap_6 and Hap_7 were significantly more often observed in small and large groups respectively. Analysis of diplotypes (haplotype combinations) of individual specimens revealed 19 diplotypes. The Hap_7/Hap_7 diplotype was found in 46.7% of large phenotype specimens, significantly more frequently than in the small group (13.5%). These results will be useful for marker‐assisted selection of red sea bream to improve production with respect to growth.