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. 2018 Oct 19;9(10):512. doi: 10.3390/genes9100512

Whole Genome Resequencing of Arkansas Progressor and Regressor Line Chickens to Identify SNPs Associated with Tumor Regression

Bhuwan Khatri 1, Ashley M Hayden 1, Nicholas B Anthony 1, Byungwhi C Kong 1,*
PMCID: PMC6210987  PMID: 30347774

Abstract

Arkansas Regressor (AR) chickens, unlike Arkansas Progressor (AP) chickens, regress tumors induced by the v-src oncogene. To better understand the genetic factors responsible for this tumor regression property, whole genome resequencing was conducted using Illumina Hi-Seq 2 × 100 bp paired-end read method (San Diego, CA, USA) with AR (confirmed tumor regression property) and AP chickens. Sequence reads were aligned to the chicken reference genome (galgal5) and produced coverage of 11× and 14× in AR and AP, respectively. A total of 7.1 and 7.3 million single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were present in AR and AP genomes, respectively. Through a series of filtration processes, a total of 12,242 SNPs were identified in AR chickens that were associated with non-synonymous, frameshift, nonsense, no-start and no-stop mutations. Further filtering of SNPs based on read depth ≥ 10, SNP% ≥ 0.75, and non-synonymous mutations identified 63 reliable marker SNPs which were chosen for gene network analysis. The network analysis revealed that the candidate genes identified in AR chickens play roles in networks centered to ubiquitin C (UBC), phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) complexes suggesting that the tumor regression property in AR chickens might be associated with ubiquitylation, PI3K, and NF-kB signaling pathways. This study provides an insight into genetic factors that could be responsible for the tumor regression property.

Keywords: tumor regression, v-src, SNPs, resequencing, chicken

1. Introduction

Chickens are not only an important supply of proteins for the human population but are also outstanding animal models in several fields of biology. They provide excellent opportunities for unraveling the genetic basis of phenotypic variations [1]. Their larger population size and increased longevity provide a greater chance for the evolution of their variants, that are then selected for important agronomic traits, providing an exceptional opportunity to discover novel functions of the specific genes [2,3]. There are diverse variants of chickens integrating various mutations that affect disease resistance and susceptibility, growth rate, body weight, muscle color, reproduction, behavior, feather color, structure and distribution, and comb shape [4,5,6,7,8,9].

Arkansas Regressor (AR) and Arkansas Progressor (AP) chickens are important animal models for studying the molecular basis of disease resistance and susceptibility. The AR and AP chickens were developed in 1965 by inbreeding of White Leghorn (susceptible to Rous Sarcoma virus: RSV) and Giant Jungle Fowl strains (resistant to RSV) [10]. The AR birds regress tumors induced by v-src oncogene of RSV, unlike the AP birds which develop malignant tumors upon v-src activation in connective tissue known as sarcoma. The tumor regression process in AR chickens may be due to the suppression of cell division, induction of apoptosis, DNA damage repair, or inhibition of metastasis by various tumor suppressor genes. In chicken models, tumor regression has been found to be strongly associated with both B complex haplotype, that encodes major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and non-MHC molecules which include T-lymphocytes and B-cell alloantigens [11,12,13].

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are very common genetic alterations and occur at a rate of ~5 SNPs per kilobase (kb) in chickens [14] and ~1 SNP per 1–2 kb in human [15]. An SNP in a coding region of DNA may change the encoded amino acid (nonsynonymous), thereby altering the structure and function of the encoded protein. Other SNPs may be silent (synonymous) in the coding region or simply occur in the noncoding region of chromosomal DNA. The SNPs may influence gene expression, messenger RNA (mRNA) stability, and localization of mRNAs/proteins in subcellular compartments; therefore, they may develop alteration of phenotypic traits [16]. They have become important biomarkers and are utilized for the study of population genetics and evolutionary changes [15,17].

Several genetic variation analyses are performed to identify SNPs associated with disease resistance traits in chickens [4,18,19,20]. However, there is limited information about the genetic factors responsible for disease resistance mechanisms against RSV in chickens. Therefore, this study was performed to identify SNPs responsible for resistance of RSV-induced tumor development in AR birds, unlike in AP birds. The SNPs resources presented here can be useful markers for understanding the disease resistance mechanisms in chickens.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Chicken Lines and DNA Preparation

Adult AP and AR chickens that are maintained by Dr. N. Anthony at the University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR, USA) were used for this study. A blood specimen (1 mL) was collected from 12 birds from each line following an animal use protocol approved by the University of Arkansas Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC; approval number: 14012). Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples using a QiaAmp DNA mini kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany) following manufacturer’s instructions. The quality of the DNA was checked using a NanoDrop 1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) and agarose gel electrophoresis. Then, the 10 best quality samples from each line were pooled to represent each chicken line.

2.2. Illumina Sequencing and Sequence Assembly

Library construction and whole genome sequencing for the pooled DNA samples were performed by the National Center for Genome Resources (NCGR; Santa Fe, NM, USA). Illumina HiSeq 2 × 100 bp paired-end read method was used for genome sequencing. The quality of raw sequencing data was determined using FastQC toolkit [21] and low-quality reads were removed using reformat.sh in BBMap [22]. The clean reads were then aligned to the chicken reference genome sequence for Red Jungle Fowl (galgal5) retrieved from National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). For the reference-based genome alignment, the NGen genome sequence assembly program of the Lasergene software package (DNAStar, Madison, WI, USA) was used. Assembly parameters were as follows: File format, Binary Alignment Map (BAM); mer Size, 21; mer skip query, 2; minimum match percentage, 93; maximum gap size, 6; minimum aligned length, 35; match score, 10; mismatch penalty, 20; gap penalty, 30; SNP calculation method, diploid Bayesian; minimum SNP percentage, 5; SNP confidence threshold, 10; minimum SNP count, 2; minimum base quality score, 5. After assembly, the SeqMan Pro program of the Lasergene package (DNAStar) was used for further analyses [23].

2.3. SNP Detection and Analysis

The JMP genomics (SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA) program was used for filtering unique SNPs for tumor regression in the AR chickens. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) occurring in both AR and AP lines were removed, leaving behind the unique SNPs for each line. To identify highly fixed and homozygous SNPs, the SNPs were filtered based on SNP percentages (SNP%). The SNPs with a SNP% of ≥ 0.75 (for example, number of SNP = 3 of read depth = 4) were chosen. The 75% cutoff for SNP selection was set by considering potential sequencing errors that can be generated by the massively parallel sequencing method. Potential causal tumor regressing SNPs that induce non-synonymous changes in CDS (coding DNA sequences; protein coding) regions were chosen and unique SNPs in either AP or AR showing ≥ 10 read depths were selected as reliable SNPs. To reduce false positives, reliable SNPs chosen by criteria described above were confirmed by double-checking the initial assembly results with alignment view in SeqMan Pro program of Lasergene package (DNAStar).

2.4. Validation of SNPs

For validation purposes, nine different SNPs associated with the induction of amino acid changes in CDS regions were randomly selected and subjected to allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using a greater number of birds. The intent of this assay is to validate the identified SNPs in the broader population. The validation assay of SNPs confirms: (1) That the nucleotide differences seen in the sequenced bird`s also occur in other birds of the same group; (2) that the sequence variants do in fact represent fixed differences. For this, 96 phenotypically verified birds each from AR and AP lines were used for blood sampling and then genomic DNA isolation. Genomic DNA was purified from whole blood using the Wizard SV 96 Genomic DNA Purification System (Promega; Madison, WI, USA) following the manufacturer’s instructions. The quality and quantity of isolated DNA were determined using a Nanodrop 1000 spectrophotometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific) and agarose gel electrophoresis. DNA from all samples were then diluted to 1 ng/µL in 96-well PCR formats. Allele-specific primers were designed corresponding to nine different SNPs based on the Red Jungle Fowl genome sequence (galgal5). Two sets of primers were designed with a common reverse primer for each SNP. The forward primer designated as F1 is the reference type whose terminal nucleotide at the 3’ end matches with a base in the reference genome. The forward primer designated as F3 is the SNP type and terminal nucleotide at the 3’ end matches with a base in the SNP. The third nucleotide from the 3’ end of both the forward primers (F1 and F3) were intentionally changed so that they mismatch with the genome in that position [24]. All primers were commercially synthesized by Integrated DNA Technology (Ames, IA, USA) (Table 1). Allele-specific PCR was conducted using F1 and F3 forward primers and a common reverse primer separately in 25 µL reaction volume in 96-well plates with cycle conditions as follows: 95 °C for 1 min, 35 cycles of amplification (95 °C for 30 s, 55 or 63 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min), and final extension 72 °C for 10 min in Applied Biosystems 2720 Thermal Cycler (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA). Formation of allele-specific PCR products was determined by 1% agarose gel electrophoresis.

Table 1.

Primers used for allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Gene Primer Name Oligo Sequence (5’ → 3’) Annealing Temperature (°C)
BMX BMX-F1 GAACTTACATACAGATCGTC 55
BMX-F3 GAACTTACATACAGATCGTT 55
BMX-R CTTCCAACCCAAGCCATTAC 55
FAM208B FAM208B-F1 CCACTCCTTGGTGGAGTATT 55
FAM208B-F3 CCACTCCTTGGTGGAGTATC 55
FAM208B-R AGAAAGATGAGGATCGTGCG 55
IFT140 IFT140-F1 AAATCCATCAAGTTGATTAA 55
IFT140-F3 AAATCCATCAAGTTGATTAG 55
IFT140-R TCTTTCTGAGAACGAAAGGG 55
IGSF IGSF-F1 CAATGGGACTGTGCTGAGTC 63
IGSF-F2 CAATGGGACTGTGCTGAGTT 63
IGSF-R TCTCAGGCAGAGGTGATGAT 63
LAMB4 LAMB4-F1 TCTCTTATTTGCGTTCAATT 55
LAMB4-F3 TCTCTTATTTGCGTTCAATC 55
LAMB4-R TTGCAGATGAGAGTGTGCCT 55
PIK3R4 PIK3R4-F1 ACTAGGGTGAGATGTTTAAT 55
PIK3R4-F3 ACTAGGGTGAGATGTTTAAC 55
PIK3R4-R GGGGATCATCAGAAGTCTGT 55
THADA THADA-F1 ACAAACCATGCTGGCATACT 63
THADA-F3 ACAAACCATGCTGGCATACC 63
THADA-R CAGGACATGCTAACCTCTGT 63
TOPAZ1 TOPAZ1-F1 AAGCTCTGGTAGGCTACGGG 63
TOPAZ1-F3 AAGCTCTGGTAGGCTACGGT 63
TOPAZ1-R CAGGCCAGAATACTGCATCT 63

2.5. Ingenuity Pathways Analysis

Candidate genes (n = 58) retaining SNPs (n = 63) associated with the regression of tumors after the filtering process were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA; Qiagen; www.ingenity.com) for understanding the gene ontology and molecular networks. Since IPA uses mechanistic pathways derived from human, mouse, and rat bioinformatics, functionalities for genes containing SNP in chicken were interpreted based primarily on mammalian biological mechanisms. The number of molecules in the network was set to the limit of 35, leaving only the most important ones based on the number of connections for each focus gene (a subset of uploaded significant genes having direct interactions with other genes in the database) to other significant genes [25].

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Genome Sequencing and Assembly

The results of the Illumina sequencing of pooled genomic DNA from 10 AR and AP chickens yielded approximately 55 and 69 million sequence reads, respectively, each 200 bp in length. Among these reads, approximately 80% were used for alignment while the remaining 20% were not aligned due to their lower sequence count scores. The sequencing coverage of AP and AR lines therefore reached 14× and 11×, respectively, to the Red Jungle Fowl genome, see Table 2. The 7.1 and 7.3 million SNPs examined in the AR and AP line, respectively, were found at the minimum of two read depths coverage. Most of the SNPs were found in large chromosomes 1 to 4 (data not shown). For identification of the signature genetic biomarkers that may be associated with the tumor regression trait in AR chicken lines, the unique SNPs that were present only in AR were selected by removing the SNPs that were also present in AP birds. Further steps of SNP filtration were carried out as described elsewhere by Jang et al. [23]. Briefly, the SNPs having SNP% ≥ 0.75, present in the CDS region only, associated with non-synonymous mutations (such as frameshift, nonsense, no-start and no-stop changes), and showing ≥ 10 read depths were considered as potential candidate SNPs and thereby included in this study. However, the process used in this study did not involve a typical SNP calling and filtering method based on quality score. From the unique AR SNPs, filtration based on SNP% ≥ 0.75 resulted in approximately 1.2 million SNPs identified throughout the AR chicken genome. Further grouping of SNPs based on feature type of chromosome regions showed that 24,868 SNPs were present in CDS region and about 50% were found in the intergenic region, see Figure 1A. Of these, non-synonymous mutations occupied ~50% of all SNPs found in CDS region, see Figure 1B.

Table 2.

Data from HiSeq and sequence assembly.

Line # of Reads # of Reads Aligned # of Reads Not Aligned Coverage Total # of SNP
AP 69,221,284 55,224,050 10,903,306 14× 7,372,778
AR 55,368,344 44,328,649 8,551,173 11× 7,173,788

AP: Arkansas Progressor; AR: Arkansas Regressor.

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Distribution of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in different regions of genome (A) and SNPs associated with different types of mutations (B). CDS: Coding DNA sequences; mRNA: Messenger RNA; ncRNA: Non-coding RNA; tRNA: Transfer RNA.

The higher percentage of SNPs found in intergenic or regulatory regions in the AR chicken genome matched with a genome-wide association study (GWAS) study in chickens [26]. About 42% of AR SNPs in the protein coding region were associated with synonymous mutations that did not lead to amino acid changes, see Figure 1B. Though non-coding sequences and synonymous substitutions in protein coding regions are being considered as driver mutations leading phenotypic changes, in this study we aimed to identify the potentially causal SNP of non-synonymous mutations which were linked to changes in amino acid sequences followed by alterations of protein structures/functionalities that are responsible for the tumor regression property in AR chickens. A total of 12,242 SNPs were identified as linked with the induction of mutations such as non-synonymous, frameshift, nonsense, no-start and no-stop. This suggests that these SNPs may play roles in protein functions leading to the tumor regression property in AR chickens. Since the 10 genomic DNA samples per group were pooled for the genome resequencing reaction, SNPs showing ≥10 read depths (considered to be more reliable candidate genetic markers present in each coverage) were chosen for further analysis. It does not mean a particular SNP showing lower read counts is not important. When a number of genes retaining 12,242 SNPs were subjected to bioinformatic pathway analysis (IPA), it covered ~9000 genes, and almost all cellular and biochemical pathways were listed as functional mechanisms (data not shown). To specify certain functional pathways, we filtered SNPs with simple numerical read counts in each SNP position based on the consideration that the higher the counts, the more reliable the SNPs [6,23]. Using this approach, 63 SNPs remained, see Table 3. To reduce false positives due to possible errors in the assembly process, re-scanning of each SNP position for the 63 potentially more reliable SNPs was conducted using the Seqman-Pro viewer program (data not shown). These 63 candidate SNP markers were chosen for further bioinformatic pathway analyses. Remaining genes retaining SNPs will be investigated with an alternative approach, such as screening of a custom SNP array that contains 12,242 SNPs representing nonsynonymous amino acid changes.

Table 3.

The 63 reliable marker SNPs that induced amino acid changes showing ≥ 10 read depths.

Contig ID C Ref Pos Ref Base Called Base Impact SNP% Feature Name DNA Change AA Change Depth A Cnt C Cnt G Cnt T Cnt Del
NC_006088 1 1034107 T C N-syn 1 FAM208B [4] c.4777A > G p.K1593E 13 0 13 0 - 0
NC_006088 1 14729572 T C N-syn 0.8 LAMB4 c.4640A > G p.K1547R 10 0 8 0 - 0
NC_006088 1 64181733 G T N-syn 1 PIK3C2G c.1585G > T p.A529S 10 0 0 - 10 0
NC_006088 1 65873551 C G N-syn 0.9 LOC101748372 c.960G > C p.R320S 11 0 - 10 0 0
NC_006088 1 104629701 G A N-syn 1 IFNAR2 c.1099G > A p.A367T 11 11 0 - 0 0
NC_006088 1 112303547 A C N-syn 0.8 RPGR c.2209A > C p.I737L 10 - 8 0 0 0
NC_006088 1 121349181 C T|C N-syn 0.75 BMX c.[1549G > G] p.D517N, 12 0 - 0 9 0
+[1549G > A] p.D517D
NC_006088 1 127837266 G T N-syn 0.89 ARSD c.449G > T p.W150L 10 0 0 - 9 0
NC_006088 1 179358329 A T|A N-syn 0.76 DDX10 c.[1849T > T] p.Y617N, 13 - 0 0 10 0
+[1849T > A] p.Y617Y
NC_006088 1 185190031 T C N-syn 0.8 CCDC67 c.983A > G p.Q328R 10 0 8 0 - 0
NC_006088 1 193338454 A T N-syn 1 ART7B c.590T > A p.L197Q 13 - 0 0 13 0
NC_006089 2 19385973 C T N-syn 1 LOC420515 c.3400G > A p.V1134I 10 0 - 0 10 0
NC_006089 2 41279450 G T N-syn 1 TOPAZ1 c.2924C > A p.T975N 10 0 0 - 10 0
NC_006089 2 42201510 T T|C N-syn 0.75 PIK3R4 c.[1937A > G] p.D646D, 12 0 9 0 - 0
+[1937A > A] p.D646G
NC_006089 2 63518627 T C N-syn 0.89 LOC101751154 c.137T > C p.I46T 10 0 9 0 - 0
NC_006089 2 96924595 G A N-syn 1 PTPN2 c.934G > A p.A312T 10 10 0 - 0 0
NC_006089 2 1.06E+08 G C N-syn 0.9 COPN5L1 c.17C > G p.A6G 11 1 10 - 0 0
NC_006089 2 1.21E+08 T C N-syn 0.91 LOC101751416 c.194T > C p.L65P 82 0 75 0 - 0
NC_006090 3 24479109 T C N-syn 1 THADA c.859A > G p.S287G 10 0 10 0 - 0
NC_006090 3 24515241 T C N-syn 1 PLEKHH2 c.1522T > C p.F508L 10 0 10 0 - 0
NC_006090 3 37785831 A G N-syn 1 TARBP1 c.1321A > G p.I441V 10 - 0 10 0 0
NC_006090 3 37785856 C T N-syn 1 TARBP1 c.1346C > T p.T449I 10 0 - 0 10 0
NC_006090 3 38965704 G T N-syn 1 DISC1 c.1027C > A p.L343I 10 0 0 - 10 0
NC_006090 3 105934067 C G N-syn 0.85 GVINP1 c.6146G > C p.R2049T 14 0 - 12 0 0
NC_006091 4 120829955 C T N-syn 0.8 LOC771752 c.62G > A p.R21Q 10 0 - 0 8 0
NC_006091 4 31100937 A C N-syn 0.9 TTC29 c.903T > G p.D301E 11 - 10 0 0 0
NC_006091 4 56709491 G G|A N-syn 0.76 C4H4ORF21 c.[631G > G] p.D211N, 13 10 0 - 0 0
+[631G > A] p.D211D
NC_006091 4 60221486 C T N-syn 1 BANK1 c.934C > T p.P312S 12 0 - 0 12 0
NC_006092 5 24297188 T C N-syn 1 MGA c.7214T > C p.M2405T 13 0 13 0 - 0
NC_006092 5 45169641 T C N-syn 1 LOC100858625 c.2191A > G p.I731V 10 0 10 0 - 0
NC_006092 5 57915337 A G N-syn 0.86 TMX1 c.230A > G p.D77G 15 - 0 13 0 0
NC_006093 6 130323 G T N-syn 1 FAM13C c.1446G > T p.E482D 10 0 0 - 10 0
NC_006093 6 23801282 T C N-syn 0.81 ITPRIP c.1528A > G p.I510V 11 0 9 0 - 0
NC_006094 7 4260582 C T N-syn 0.8 ABCA12 c.2110G > A p.A704T 10 0 - 1 8 0
NC_006094 7 4717753 G A N-syn 0.8 RAB17 c.601G > A p.V201I 10 8 0 - 0 0
NC_006094 7 4717765 G A N-syn 0.9 RAB17 c.613G > A p.V205I 11 10 0 - 0 0
NC_006094 7 14344085 A G N-syn 1 ZNF385B c.131A > G p.H44R 13 - 0 13 0 0
NC_006094 7 15047308 A G N-syn 1 LOC770919 c.1253A > G p.Y418C 10 - 0 10 0 0
NC_006094 7 15047322 A G N-syn 1 LOC770919 c.1267A > G p.K423E 10 - 0 10 0 0
NC_006096 9 713606 G A N-syn 1 SAG c.151G > A p.V51M 13 13 0 - 0 0
NC_006096 9 20652272 T C N-syn 1 SI c.2905T > C p.S969P 11 0 11 0 - 0
NC_006096 9 21722478 G A N-syn 0.83 LOC425015 c.1352G > A p.G451D 12 10 0 - 0 0
NC_006096 9 21722484 C T N-syn 0.8 LOC425015 c.1358C > T p.P453L 10 0 - 0 8 0
NC_006096 9 22653344 T G N-syn 0.89 DHX36 c.333T > G p.Y111. 10 0 0 9 - 1
NC_006097 10 11164703 C T N-syn 1 FAM154B c.287G > A p.R96K 11 0 - 0 11 0
NC_006098 11 9564860 G A N-syn 1 LRP3 c.2206G > A p.G736R 10 10 0 - 0 0
NC_006099 12 5208897 A G N-syn 1 LOC100857401 c.3511A > G p.K1171E 10 - 0 10 0 0
NC_006100 13 14403319 C G N-syn 0.9 LOC101749661 c.260G > C p.G87A 11 0 - 10 0 0
NC_006101 14 1.2E+07 T C N-syn 1 KIAA0556 c.2794A > G p.N932D 10 0 10 0 - 0
NC_006101 14 13770765 A G N-syn 0.89 IFT140 c.2372A > G p.K791R 10 - 0 9 0 0
NC_006102 15 10822742 T C N-syn 0.89 CCDC157 c.1492A > G p.S498G 10 1 9 0 - 0
NC_006104 17 6833124 C T N-syn 0.83 GBGT1 c.368G > A p.R123H 12 0 - 0 10 0
NC_006104 17 7711131 A G N-syn 1 PPP1R26 c.637A > G p.I213V 11 - 0 11 0 0
NC_006106 19 5656736 C T N-syn 0.8 SLC46A1 c.1174G > A p.G392S 10 0 - 0 8 0
NC_006107 20 43121 C T N-syn 1 IGSF1 c.412C > T p.R138C 10 0 - 0 10 0
NC_006107 20 478926 C T N-syn 0.8 GGT7 c.1472C > T p.S491F 10 0 - 0 8 0
NC_006107 20 4706188 G T N-syn 0.89 LOC101750167 c.619G > T p.A207S 10 0 0 - 9 0
NC_006108 21 1906952 T C N-syn 1 TMEM52 c.2T > C p.M1T 10 0 10 0 - 0
NC_006108 21 1906991 G T N-syn 1 TMEM52 c.41G > T p.C14F 11 0 0 - 11 0
NC_006108 21 2451062 T G N-syn 0.89 SCNN1D c.1912A > C p.I638L 10 0 0 9 - 0
NC_006108 21 3241081 C T N-syn 1 SLC2A5 c.1246G > A p.A416T 11 0 - 0 11 0
NC_006108 21 4662973 C A N-syn 0.89 EMC1 c.1070G > T p.S357I 10 9 - 0 0 0
NC_006111 24 130579 C T|C N-syn 0.81 FEZ1 c.[1196C > T] p.P399P, 16 0 - 0 13 0
+[1196C > C] p.P399L

Contig ID, chromosome (C) numbers, reference position (Ref Pos), reference base (Ref Base), called (SNP) base, impact (kinds of protein mutation), SNP%, feature name (gene name), DNA change, amino acid (AA) change, Depths, and five columns for SNP counts (Cnts) are indicated.

3.2. SNP Validation

To verify the SNPs identified by genome resequencing, nine SNPs were randomly chosen from the 63 reliable candidate SNPs and subjected to allele-specific PCR in a greater number of birds, see Figure 2; specifically, 96 AR chickens with confirmed tumor regression property and 96 AP chickens with confirmed tumor progression property were used. The purpose of this validation is to confirm that identified SNPs present in the sequenced birds also occur in other birds of the same group to elucidate fixed differences between AR and AP groups. The results clearly showed the segregation of SNP genotypes as the majority of AR and AP birds showed SNP type and reference type, respectively, see Table 4. Thus, the 63 SNPs chosen in this study may become potential genetic biomarkers for tumor regression in AR chickens.

Figure 2.

Figure 2

Nine candidate markers and different genotypes shown by allele-specific PCR in a larger population of AR and AP chicken lines. RJF: Red Jungle Fowl.

Table 4.

Validation of SNPs using allele-specific PCR in 96 AR and 96 AP line chickens.

Chr Ref Pos Genes Ref Base Called Base Impact SNP% Amino Acid Change Results of 96 Birds Each from AP and AR Lines
Homozygous RJF Heterozygote Homozygous SNP
AR AP AR AP AR AP
1 193338454 ART7B A T N-syn 1 p.L197Q 5 93 23 3 68 0
1 121349181 BMX C T|C N-syn 0.75 p.D517N, p.D517D 16 96 26 0 54 0
1 1034107 FAM208B T C N-syn 1 p.K1593E 0 94 0 1 96 1
14 13770765 IFT140 A G N-syn 0.89 p.K791R 9 95 44 1 43 0
20 43121 IGSF1 C T N-syn 1 p.R138C 0 63 0 28 96 5
1 14729572 LAMB4 T C N-syn 0.8 p.K1547R 39 84 15 2 42 10
2 42201510 PIK3R4 T T|C N-syn 0.75 p.D646D, p.D646G 16 71 4 16 76 9
3 24479109 THADA T C N-syn 1 p.S287G 0 64 0 30 96 2
2 41279450 TOPAZ1 G T N-syn 1 p.T975N 0 16 0 78 96 2

3.3. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis of Candidate Causal Genes

The IPA program was used to determine functional groups and networks analysis for genes containing amino acid changes in AR chickens. We used several online analytical tools (GO, KEGG, and Gorilla etc.), in addition to IPA, to analyze functions of the genes containing SNPs and obtained similar results of gene-to-gene interactions, function, and disease categories. Thus, the only bioinformatic pathway results generated by IPA will be discussed here in order to more clearly present the mechanistic results. The 63 SNPs were found in 58 genes associated with chromosomal open reading frames, and hypothetical proteins, see Table 5. The genes were further grouped into 89 functional groups (Supplementary Materials Table S1), that are directly or indirectly related to tumor development.

Table 5.

Gene name and functions of genes containing amino acid changes showing over 10 depth counts in AR chickens.

ID Entrez Gene Name Location Type(s)
ABCA12 ATP-binding cassette, sub-family A (ABC1), member 12 Plasma Membrane Transporter
ARSD arylsulfatase D Cytoplasm Enzyme
BANK1 B-cell scaffold protein with ankyrin repeats 1 Extracellular Space Other
BMX Bone Marrow on X chromosome (BMX) non-receptor tyrosine kinase Cytoplasm Kinase
CCDC157 Coiled-coil domain containing 157 Other Other
CCDC67 coiled-coil domain containing 67 Other Other
DDX10 DEAD (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) box polypeptide 10 Nucleus Enzyme
DHX36 DEAH (Asp-Glu-Ala-His) box polypeptide 36 Cytoplasm Enzyme
DISC1 disrupted in schizophrenia 1 Cytoplasm Other
EMC1 Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane protein complex subunit 1 Plasma Membrane Other
FAM13C Family with sequence similarity 13, member C Other Other
FAM154B Family with sequence similarity 154, member B Other Other
FAM208B Family with sequence similarity 208, member B Other Other
FEZ1 Fasciculation and elongation protein zeta 1 (zygin I) Cytoplasm Other
GBGT1 Globoside alpha-1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1 Other Enzyme
GGT7 Gamma-glutamyltransferase 7 Plasma Membrane Enzyme
GVINP1 GTPase, very large interferon inducible pseudogene 1 Other Other
IFNAR2 Interferon (α, β and Ω) receptor 2 Plasma Membrane transmembrane receptor
IFT140 Intraflagellar transport 140 Extracellular Space Other
IGSF1 Immunoglobulin superfamily, member 1 Plasma Membrane Other
ITPRIP Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor interacting protein Extracellular Space Other
KIAA0556 KIAA0556 Extracellular Space Other
LAMB4 Laminin, beta 4 Other Other
LRP3 Low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 3 Plasma Membrane transmembrane receptor
MGA MYC associated factor X (MAX) dimerization protein Nucleus transcription regulator
PIK3C2G Phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit type 2 γ Cytoplasm Kinase
PIK3R4 Phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 4 Cytoplasm Kinase
PLEKHH2 Pleckstrin homology domain containing, family H (with MyTH4 domain) member 2 Cytoplasm Other
PPP1R26 Protein phosphatase 1, regulatory subunit 26 Nucleus Other
PTPN2 Protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 2 Cytoplasm Phosphatase
RAB17 RAB17, member RAS oncogene family Cytoplasm Enzyme
RPGR Retinitis pigmentosa GTPase regulator Cytoplasm Other
SAG S-antigen; retina and pineal gland (arrestin) Cytoplasm Other
SCNN1D Sodium channel, non-voltage-gated 1, δ subunit Plasma Membrane ion channel
SI Sucrase-isomaltase (α-glucosidase) Cytoplasm Enzyme
SLC2A5 Solute carrier family 2 (facilitated glucose/fructose transporter), member 5 Plasma Membrane Transporter
SLC46A1 Solute carrier family 46 (folate transporter), member 1 Plasma Membrane Transporter
TARBP1 Trans-activation response (TAR) (HIV-1) RNA binding protein 1 Nucleus transcription regulator
THADA Thyroid adenoma associated Other Other
TMEM52 Transmembrane protein 52 Other Other
TMX1 Thioredoxin-related transmembrane protein 1 Cytoplasm Enzyme
TOPAZ1 Testis and ovary specific Piwi Argonaut and Zwille (PAZ) domain containing 1 Other Other
TTC29 Tetratricopeptide repeat domain 29 Other Other
ZNF385B Zinc finger protein 385B Nucleus Other
LOC101748372 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
ART7B Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC420515 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC101751154 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
COPN5L1 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC101751416 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC771752 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
C4H4ORF21 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC100858625 Uncharacterized N/A N/A
LOC770919 Uncharacterized N/A N/A

3.4. Gene Networks

Using IPA, molecular networks were generated using the interacting genes associated with amino acid changes in AR chickens based on functional knowledge inputs. A summary of the associated network functions of candidate genes is presented in Table 6.

Table 6.

Associated network functions of candidate genes.

ID Molecules in Network Score Top Diseases and Functions
1 ABCA12, ACP6, ARSB, ARSD, ARSE, ARSF, ARSG, ARSI, ARSJ, CBWD2, DDX10, DHX36, EMC1, GGT7, GNS, IFT122, IFT140, IFT172, ITPRIP, LAMB4, MGA, PANK2, PLEC, SCNN1D, SGSH, SLC46A1, SRPX, SUMF1, SUMF2, TARBP1, THADA,TTBK2 30 Developmental Disorder, Hereditary Disorder, Metabolic Disease
TTC21B, UBC, WDR19
2 ANO10, BANK1, BCR (complex), CAPN15, CCDC67, CCDC141, CCDC85B, DISC1, FAM208B, FAS, FEZ1, GPR107, IGSF1, KMT2D, LYN, MARVELD1, NT5DC1, OARD1, P2RY8, PLEKHH2, PPP1R26 22 Cell Death and Survival, Hematological System Development and Function, Humoral Immune Response
RELL1, RPGR, SLC13A3, SLC26A11, SLC35F5, SMC3, SYPL2, TGFB1, MEM184B, TMX1, TRMT2B, UBC, ZNF761, ZNF385B
3 ARRB1, BMX, Cgm4/Psg16, CRK-CRKL-CBL, Erbb3 dimer, FAM13C, FRY, GAB1/2, GHR dimer, GSN-PI3K-PIP2-Src, Hcst dimer, IFNAR2, Insulin, IRS2-PI3K, LMNA, LRP, LRP3, LRP10, Met dimer, NFkB (complex), NUPR1, PI3K (complex), PIK3C2G, PIK3R4, Prl4a1, PTPN2, RAB17, SAG, Sh2b3, SHC-GRB2-GAB1, SHP2-PI3K-GAB2, SI, SLC2A5, T3-TRβ, Vegfr dimer 22 Developmental Disorder, Gastrointestinal Disease, Hereditary Disorder

The major functions of molecules associated with Network #1 are related to developmental, heredity, and metabolic disorders. Similarly, the top functions of molecules in Network #2 include cell death and survival, hematological system development and function, and humoral immune response, see Table 6. The molecules in Network #1, see Figure 3, and Network #2, see Figure 4, are centrally linked to ubiquitin C (UBC). The UBC functions in protein degradation, DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, kinase modification, endocytosis, and regulation of other cell signaling pathways. Ub ligase, an important enzyme in the ubiquitination process, which functions for ligating the substrate molecule to ubiquitin via lysine residue, may function in regulating the stability of oncogenes or tumor suppressors-proteins [27]. In AR chickens, the amino acid lysine was found to be changed to glutamic acid in FAM208B (family with sequence similarity 208, member B). Similarly, lysine residues in proteins LAMB4 (laminin, beta 4) and IFT140 (intraflagellar transport 140 homolog) were identified as having changed to arginine residues. This might suggest that various cellular processes involving protein degradation by altered ubiquitylation properties of proteins may play a significant role in the regression of tumors in AR chickens.

Figure 3.

Figure 3

Gene network #1. Molecular interactions among the important focus molecules are displayed. Gray symbols show the genes found in the list of SNP while white symbols indicate neighboring genes that are functionally associated, but not included, in the gene list of SNP. Symbols for each molecule are presented according to molecular functions and type of interactions.

Figure 4.

Figure 4

Gene network #2. Molecular interaction and symbols are the same as described in Figure 3.

The candidate genes in Network #3, see Figure 5, are associated with the signaling pathway of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) and NF-kB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) connected to Arrestin Beta 1 (ARRB1) with insulin signaling in the center. The top functions of the genes are related to developmental, gastrointestinal, and heredity disorders. It has been reported that the PI3K signaling pathway is crucial for several aspects of cell growth and survival. Recent human cancer genomic studies have shown that many components of this pathway are frequently targeted for the design of anticancer agents in humans by many aberrations including mutation, amplification, and rearrangement [28,29,30]. A study has also shown that the inhibition of the PI3K pathway leads to the partial inhibition of tumor growth [31]. In this study, the SNPs identified in the genes PIK3R4 and PIK3C2G, which are the components of PI3K pathway may have a role in the down-regulation of the PI3K pathway and may be responsible for the tumor regression trait in AR chickens. The NF-kB signaling pathway also plays a role in oncogenesis as it regulates the expression of genes involved in the development and progression of cancer such as proliferation, migration, and apoptosis [32,33]. It has been shown that blocking of PI3K leads to a marked reduction of constitutive NF-kB activity and promotes p53-mediated transcription. p53 is a crucial cellular protein that regulates the cell cycle and functions as a tumor suppressor, preventing oncogenesis [34,35]. Therefore, the down-regulation of both PI3K and NF-kB signaling pathways due to the SNPs present in components of the PI3K pathway might block the anti-apoptotic pathway and lead to apoptosis by p53 tumor-suppressing properties in AR chickens. BMX Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (also known as ETK) which is present in Network #3 is a Tyrosine-protein kinase Tec family of kinase and is found to be expressed in endothelial lineages and some cancers such as breast and prostate. It has been shown to have anti-apoptotic properties in prostate cancer lines and regulate the PI3K signaling pathway [36,37,38]. Due to the occurrence of a single nucleotide polymorphism in the BMX gene, the oncogenic functions of the BMX gene may have been turned off along with its regulatory action on the PI3K signaling pathway. This may be another reason for the tumor regression character of AR chickens.

Figure 5.

Figure 5

Gene network #3. Molecular interaction and symbols are the same as described in Figure 3.

4. Conclusions

In this study, several candidate SNP markers which alter the amino acids residues associated with the tumor regression trait in AR chickens were detected through high-throughput genome re-sequencing. Based on bioinformatic studies, the reliable candidate genes containing SNPs were involved in ubiquitylation, PI3K, and NF-kB signaling pathways, suggesting their role in tumor regression in AR chickens. Future studies including screening custom SNP arrays that contain 12,242 SNPs representing nonsynonymous amino acid changes, allele-specific expression of the marker genes with candidate SNPs in target tissues, and more thorough bioinformatic pathway analyses will be performed to gain better insight into the mechanism of tumor regression in AR chickens.

Acknowledgments

We thank the Arkansas High Performance Computing Center and Cell and Molecular Biology of University of Arkansas (Fayetteville, AR, USA) for providing cluster computing resources and JMP genomics, respectively. This study was supported by Arkansas Agricultural Experimental Station and Arkansas Bioscience Institute.

Supplementary Materials

The following are available online at http://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/9/10/512/s1, Table S1: Functional groups of genes containing SNPs uniquely found in AR chickens.

Author Contributions

B.K. performed experiments, analyzed data, and wrote the manuscript, A.M.H. prepared DNA from blood samples, N.B.A maintained the animal models and prepared blood samples from chickens. B.C.K. designed the experiments, analyzed data and wrote the manuscript. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This research was supported by Arkansas Bioscience Institute and Division of Agriculture at University of Arkansas.

Conflicts of Interest

We certify that there is no conflict of interest with any financial organization regarding the materials discussed in the manuscript.

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