Identification of key candidate genes for body weight traits in male Dongfeng sika deer based on genome-wide association analysis

This study aimed to identify genetic markers for body weight in adult male Dongfeng sika deer (Cervus nippon) using a genome-wide association study (GWAS). A cohort of 266 healthy, five-year-old stags was phenotyped and genotyped via whole-genome resequencing. Population structure was assessed, and a mixed linear model (MLM) was employed for association testing, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses of candidate genes. The GWAS identified twelve genome-wide significant SNP loci, which were annotated to seven candidate genes: ERC2, LOC122708028, FHIT, CASP14, UBE3A, NRXN3, and GABRA5. Functional enrichment analyses revealed these genes are significantly involved in the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic synaptic transmission pathway and pathways related to DNA damage repair and cell cycle regulation. This study provides insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying body weight traits in adult male Dongfeng sika deer and offers a reference for subsequent functional exploration of candidate genes.