Novel insights into the bovine polled phenotype and horn ontogenesis in bovidae
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Date
Authors
Allais-Bonnet, Aurelie
Grohs, Cecile
Medugorac, Ivica
Krebs, Stefan
Djari, Anis
Graf, Alexander
Fritz, Sebastien
Seichter, Doris
Baur, Aurelia
Russ, Ingolf
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Despite massive research efforts, the molecular etiology of bovine polledness and the developmental pathways involved in
horn ontogenesis are still poorly understood. In a recent article, we provided evidence for the existence of at least two
different alleles at the Polled locus and identified candidate mutations for each of them. None of these mutations was
located in known coding or regulatory regions, thus adding to the complexity of understanding the molecular basis of
polledness. We confirm previous results here and exhaustively identify the causative mutation for the Celtic allele (PC) and
four candidate mutations for the Friesian allele (PF). We describe a previously unreported eyelash-and-eyelid phenotype
associated with regular polledness, and present unique histological and gene expression data on bovine horn bud
differentiation in fetuses affected by three different horn defect syndromes, as well as in wild-type controls. We propose the
ectopic expression of a lincRNA in PC/p horn buds as a probable cause of horn bud agenesis. In addition, we provide
evidence for an involvement of OLIG2, FOXL2 and RXFP2 in horn bud differentiation, and draw a first link between bovine,
ovine and caprine Polled loci. Our results represent a first and important step in understanding the genetic pathways and
key process involved in horn bud differentiation in Bovidae.
Description
Keywords
Bovine polledness, Horn ontogenesis, Bovidae, Celtic allele, Alleles
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Allais-Bonnet A, Grohs C, Medugorac I, Krebs S, Djari A, et al. (2013) Novel Insights into the Bovine Polled Phenotype and Horn Ontogenesis in Bovidae. PLoS ONE 8(5): e63512. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063512