Expression of LGALS3 and XPNPEP2 genes and their association with growth traits in sheep.

Growth traits are critical economic factors in sheep breeding and are influenced by various elements. This study aims to identify the expression levels of the LGALS3 and XPNPEP2 genes in Hu sheep, as well as to explore the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and growth traits using qRT-PCR, DNA sequencing, and AQP™ typing technology, thereby providing a theoretical basis for marker-assisted selection in sheep breeding. The results showed that both LGALS3 and XPNPEP2 genes had intronic mutations: g.65,688,711 T > C and g.113,699,247 C > T. Both genes were expressed in all ten tissues analyzed, with LGALS3 being most highly expressed in spleen tissue and XPNPEP2 being most highly expressed in kidney tissue. Association analyses revealed that the LGALS3 g.65,688,711 T > C and XPNPEP2 g.113,699,247 C > T polymorphisms were significantly associated with growth traits. Furthermore, analysis of different genotype combinations indicated that various combinations of LGALS3 and XPNPEP2 genotypes displayed significant differences in the growth traits of Hu sheep across different growth stages (P < 0.05). Thus, the polymorphisms of the LGALS3 and XPNPEP2 genes may serve as potential markers for growth traits in Hu sheep.