Animal Bioscience

Asian Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies (아세아태평양축산학회)
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Association analysis and in silico functional predictions of RMDN2 variants in chickens

  • Ashi Li (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Yuechen Liao (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Yangqiwen Luo (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Runbang Zhu (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Cangning Zhang (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Xingguo Wang (Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science) ;
  • Meng Ma (Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science) ;
  • Liumei Sun (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Liang Qu (Jiangsu Institute of Poultry Science) ;
  • Manman Shen (Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Sericultural and Animal Biotechnology, School of Biotechnology, Jiangsu University of Science and Technology)
  • Received : 2025.10.11
  • Accepted : 2026.02.26
  • Published : 2026.06.01
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Abstract

Objective: Microtubule dynamics regulator protein 2 (RMDN2) plays a crucial role in cell division, cytoskeleton maintenance, and various cellular processes, thereby establishing it as a candidate gene influencing chicken follicle development in our previous studies. This research aims to explore single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), perform phylogenetic analysis, and assess sequence characteristics of RMDN2, offering valuable insights for molecular marker-assisted breeding and enhancing the understanding of its regulatory mechanisms. Methods: SNPs within the RMDN2 coding sequence region were identified in an F2 resource population. Bioinformatics tools were employed to investigate the effects of SNP mutations on the structure and function of RMDN2 protein. Additionally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed to elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying the role of RMDN2 in chicken laying traits. Results: Four novel exonic SNPs were identified: SNP1 (c.250G>A, p.Val84Ile), SNP2 (c.270G>C, p.Lys90Asn), SNP3 (c.533G>T, p.Gly178Val), and SNP4 (c.606G>A). The heterozygous genotypes of SNP1, SNP3, and SNP4 showed a significant association with increased egg number at 66 weeks (p<0.05). In contrast, the heterozygous genotype of SNP2 is associated with higher body weight at first egg (BWFE) (p<0.05). Notably, the H1H1 haplotype combination demonstrated a significant association with reduced BWFE, body weight at 105 days, and first egg weight (p<0.05). Missense mutations in SNP1, SNP2, and SNP3 may influence the hydrophilic/hydrophobic properties, transmembrane regions, functional domains, and secondary structure of the RMDN2 protein, potentially reducing its stability. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated complete sequence homology between chicken and quail, indicating substantial conservation within species of the same order, while showing a marked decrease across different taxonomic orders. Conclusion: These findings enrich the candidate gene pool associated with the regulation of laying traits in chickens. However, further validation through in vivo and in vitro experiments remains necessary to strengthen the theoretical foundation for molecular breeding strategies.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD1300100) and China Agriculture Research Systems (CARS-40-K01).

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