ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Vet. Sci.
Sec. Livestock Genomics
Volume 12 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1632017
This article is part of the Research TopicInsights in Livestock GenomicsView all 12 articles
Genome-wide selection signal analysis reveals the adaptability of Tibetan sheep to high altitudes
Provisionally accepted
- 1Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- 2College of Life Science and Engineering, Northwest University for Nationalities, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China
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Altitude adaptation is a complex process involving multiple physiological and biochemical responses to hypoxia and other environmental stresses. In-depth genetic analysis of Tibetan sheep, which exhibit significant adaptations to high-altitude hypoxia, promises to elucidate hypoxia-tolerance mechanisms in plateau animals. Here, we conducted a genome-wide selection scan on three Tibetan sheep populations: low-altitude Tao (TS; 2887 m), medium-altitude Tianjun white (WT; 3331 m), and high-altitude Huoerba (HB; 4614 m). Using the population differentiation index (Fst) and nucleotide diversity (θπ) ratio, we analyzed selection signals associated with hypoxia at high-altitudes. We screened 865, 941, and 876 candidate genes in the TS vs. WT, TS vs. HB, and WT vs. HB group comparisons, respectively, 55 of which were jointly screened. Integrated analysis further identified several key pathways and genes under positive selection in Tibetan sheep populations, including metabolic pathways (GSTA1, ALAS1, HMOX2, SCD, ME1, ACSL6, PIK3C2G), melanogenesis (MITF, EP300), and the HIF-1 signaling pathway (ERBB2, HIF1A, RELA). Among these, the metabolic pathways may enhance energy production under hypoxic conditions, while melanogenesis and the HIF-1 signaling pathway are likely associated with ultraviolet radiation protection and hypoxia tolerance, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic mechanism of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan sheep, and also provides important theoretical basis for the conservation and breeding of Tibetan sheep and the sustainable development of plateau animal husbandry.
Keywords: Tibetan sheep, High-altitude adaptation, Whole-genome resequencing, Fst, θπ Ratio, Selection signal
Received: 20 May 2025; Accepted: 31 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Song, Yuan, GUO, Chen, Wang, Lu and Jianbin. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Zengkui Lu, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
Liu Jianbin, Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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