Shared Signatures of Selection Related to Adaptation and Acclimation in Local Cattle and Sheep Breeds from Russia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify common candidate genes related to environmental adaptation including the cold climates in Russian native cattle and sheep breeds. We made use of our previously published data on candidate regions under selection in the genomes of nine Russian native cattle breeds and 15 Russian sheep breeds using two approaches: the hapFLK and DCMS. We choose one top gene per candidate region under selection for the present study. The total number of genes across all selected regions was 2143 for the cattle and 7706 for the sheep breeds (p-value < 0.05). Of these 1262 genes were shared between the two lists and potentially underwent positive selection in both species. Among them 31 genes were independently reported to be under selection in at least two species of cold-adapted Arctic mammals. Strikingly, the NEB gene, likely associated with heat production via shivering thermogenesis, was found in positively selected regions in the cattle, sheep, mammoth, polar bear, and whale genomes. The shared list of 1262 genes was enriched for genes that are expressed in the brain, uterus, and blood vessels. The latter group may be associated with adaptation to cold climates due to the known contribution of blood vessels to thermogenesis. Our analysis points to a list of shared genes which could be related to adaptation to cold climates in the Russian cattle and sheep breeds and animals from the Arctic region.