The 1.78kb insertion in the 3′‑untranslated region of RXFP2 gene does not segregate with horn phenotype in Hu sheep

The 1.78kb insertion in the 3′‑untranslated region of RXFP2 gene does not segregate with horn phenotype in Hu sheep | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 12 November 2025 V1 Latest version Share on The 1.78kb insertion in the 3′‑untranslated region of RXFP2 gene does not segregate with horn phenotype in Hu sheep Authors : Haitao Wang 0009-0003-5687-5172 , Tingting Li , Jieran Chen , Liming Wang , Xia Li , Yuting Zhang , Na Zhang , Zhichao Zhang , Runlin Ma , Daxiang Wang , Xun Huang , and Qiuyue Liu [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176293998.81941016/v1 274 views 140 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract The RXFP2 gene is a key regulator of horn morphology in sheep ( Ovis aries Linnaeus), with a 1.78-kb insertion in its 3′-untranslated region (UTR) previously linked to the polled phenotype. However, horned individuals homozygous for this insertion (1.78 kb + / + ) have been observed in typically polled breeds such as Hu sheep, suggesting additional regulatory mechanisms. In this study, a significant horn-associated quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 10 was identified through genome-wide association analysis which was consistent with previous study. We found that the 1.78-kb insertion in the 3′-UTR of RXFP2 is associated with horn status across sheep breeds, and that elevated RXFP2 expression correlates with horn development even in 1.78 kb + / + individuals, as revealed by expression analyses in multiple breeds. RNA-seq and hormonal profiling further demonstrated that the INSL3/RXFP2 signaling axis, particularly its interactions with hormones such as testosterone, plays a central role in horn morphogenesis. These results indicate that horn development is modulated not only by structural variations in RXFP2 , but also through its transcriptional and hormonal regulation, providing new insights into the polygenic basis of horn formation and informing breeding strategies for polled sheep. Supplementary Material File (main document.docx) Download 1.16 MB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 12 November 2025 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords 1.78-kb insertion genome-wide association study horn phenotype insl3/rxfp2 signaling rxfp2 sheep Authors Affiliations Haitao Wang 0009-0003-5687-5172 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Tingting Li Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Jieran Chen Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Liming Wang Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science View all articles by this author Xia Li Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Yuting Zhang Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Na Zhang Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Zhichao Zhang Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Runlin Ma Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Daxiang Wang Jiangsu Qianbao Animal Husbandry Co Ltd View all articles by this author Xun Huang Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Qiuyue Liu [email protected] Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 274 views 140 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Haitao Wang, Tingting Li, Jieran Chen, et al. The 1.78kb insertion in the 3′‑untranslated region of RXFP2 gene does not segregate with horn phenotype in Hu sheep. Authorea . 12 November 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.176293998.81941016/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . 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