Identification of MEF2B and TRHDE Gene Polymorphisms Related to Growth Traits in a New Ujumqin Sheep Population

2 SNPs were discovered in our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS): s58995.1 (rs420767326 A>G) in MEF2B gene and OAR3_115712045.1 (rs401775061 A>C) in TRHDE gene, which were significantly associated with post-weaning gain in sheep. Herein, we performed a replication experiment to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the MEF2B and TRHDE gene exons, the 5'untranslated regions (within 1000bp), the 3' untranslated regions (within 1000bp) and their associations with Ujumqin sheep growth traits in 4-month age and 6-month age, respectively. Finally,3 SNPs were selected to be investigated including 1 SNP in 3'untranslated regions in MEF2B gene (rs417014745 A>G) and 2 SNPs in TRHDE gene (rs426980328 T>C and rs430810656 G>A).The χ2 test showed all the 3 variations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (P>0.05) status. Association analysis suggested that rs426980328 T>C was significantly associated with body weight and chest girth in 4-month age (PA exhibited extremely significant association with body weight and chest girth in 4-month age (PG was extremely significantly associated with body weight and chest girth in 4-month age and chest girth in 6-month age (P