Assessing genetic diversity in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) populations: a large-scale screening of myostatin gene polymorphisms

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) is a keystone species of circumpolar ecosystems with significant economic importance for indigenous northern peoples. Despite its long history of interaction with humans, questions regarding genetic differentiation between domestic and wild populations remain debated. This study presents the first mass screening of polymorphisms of the myostatin gene (MSTN) with subsequent assessment of the level of genetic differentiation between populations of domestic and wild reindeer. The study sample (n = 958) included individuals of domestic breeds (Nenets, Even, Evenki, Chukchi) and populations (Tuva, Mongolian), as well as the wild forms (tundra and taiga) from the bioresource collection of the L.K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry. Realtime PCR was used to genotype the target SNP (g. 1132348) in the MSTN gene. An analysis of genotype and allele distribution revealed significant interpopulation differences: domestic reindeer showed variable allele frequencies: A — 43,5–60,2%, G — 56,5–65,4%), while wild populations predominantly carried the A allele — 67,8–71,1%. The homozygous AA genotype was more frequent in wild (46,1%) than domestic (17,95%) populations, potentially reflecting adaptation to natural environments. These first-reported findings contribute to understanding the evolutionary dynamics of the species and are valuable for the developing genetic diversity conservation strategies, implementing marker-assisted selection and formulating sciencebased genetic resource management programs for reindeer

1. Pelletier M., Kotiaho A., Niinimäki S., Salmi A.-K. Identifying early stages of reindeer domestication in the archaeological record: a 3D morphological investigation on forelimb bones of modern populations from Fennoscandia. Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. 2020; 12(8): 169. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12520-020-01123-0

2. Nikolaev S.V., Matyukov V.S., Filatov A.V. Intrapopulation genetic differentiation of reindeer herd of Yamal experimental station. Agrarian science. 2024; (11): 82–86 (in Russian). https://doi.org/10.32634/0869-8155-2024-388-11-82-86

3. Pelletier M., Discamps E., Bignon-Lau O., Salmi A.-K. Investigating the domestication and early management of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the Sámi archaeological context from teeth geometric morphometrics. Scientific Reports. 2023; 13: 6174. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33422-6

4. Murashkin A.I., Kolpakov E.M., Shumkin V.Ya., Khartanovich V.I., Moiseyev V.G. Kola Oleneostrovskiy Grave Field: A Unique Burial Site in the European Arctic. Iskos. 2016; 21: 185–199. https://www.elibrary.ru/vulhyv

5. Losey R.J. et al. Domestication as Enskilment: Harnessing Reindeer in Arctic Siberia. Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory. 2021; 28(1): 197–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10816-020-09455-w

6. Koshkina O.A., Solovyova A.D., Deniskova Т.Е., Kharzinova V.R., Zinovieva N.А. Study of the genetic diversity of domestic and wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L., 1758) populations using nuclear and mitochondrial genomic markers. Agricultural Biology. 2022; 57(6): 1101–1116. https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2022.6.1101eng

7. Kharzinova V.R. et al. Genetic diversity and population structure of domestic and wild reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L. 1758): A novel approach using BovineHD BeadChip. PLOS One. 2018; 13(11): e0207944. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0207944

8. Svishcheva G.R., Babayan O.V., Sipko T.P., Kashtanov S.N., Kholodova M.V., Stolpovsky Y.A. Genetic differentiation between coexisting wild and domestic Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L. 1758) in Northern Eurasia. Genetic Resources. 2022; 3(6): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.46265/genresj.UYML5006

9. Zhai J.-C., Liu W.-S., Yin Y.-J., Xia Y.-L., Li H.-P. Analysis on Genetic Diversity of Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) in the Greater Khingan Mountains Using Microsatellite Markers. Zoological Studies. 2017; 56: 11. https://doi.org/10.6620/ZS.2017.56-11

10. Jepsen B.I., Siegismund H.R., Fredholm M. Population genetics of the native caribou (Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus) and the semidomestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Southwestern Greenland: evidence of introgression. Conservation Genetics. 2002; 3(4): 401–409. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020523303815

11. Stolpovsky Yu.A. et al. Genetic Evaluation of the Breeds of Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) and Their Wild Ancestor Using a New Panel of STR Markers. Russian Journal of Genetics. 2020; 56(12): 1469–1483. https://doi.org/10.1134/S1022795420120133

12. Kharzinova V.R. et al. Study of the allele pool and the degree of genetic introgression of semi-domesticated and wild populations of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L., 1758) using microsatellites. Agricultural Biology. 2016; 51(6): 811–823. https://doi.org/10.15389/agrobiology.2016.6.811eng

13. Miller J.H., Druckenmiller P., Bahn V. Antlers on the Arctic Refuge: capturing multi-generational patterns of calving ground use from bones on the landscape. Proceedings. Biological Sciences. 2013; 280(1759): 20130275. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2013.0275

14. McPherron A.C., Lawler A.M., Lee S.-J. Regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice by a new TGF-beta superfamily member. Nature. 1997; 387(6628): 83–90. https://doi.org/10.1038/387083a0

15. Gonzalez-Cadavid N.F. et al. Organization of the human myostatin gene and expression in healthy men and HIV-infected men with muscle wasting. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 1998; 95(25): 14938–14943. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.95.25.14938

16. Joulia-Ekaza D., Cabello G. Myostatin regulation of muscle development: Molecular basis, natural mutations, physiopathological aspects. Experimental Cell Research. 2006; 312(13): 2401–2414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yexcr.2006.04.012

17. Jeanplong F., Sharma M., Somers W.G., Bass J.J., Kambadur R. Genomic organization and neonatal expression of the bovine myostatin gene. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry. 2001; 220(1–2): 31–37. https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1010801511963

18. Du R. et al. Cloning and sequence analysis of myostatin promoter in sheep. DNA Sequence. 2005; 16(6): 412–417. https://doi.org/10.1080/10425170500226474

19. Stinckens A. et al. Characterization of the complete porcine MSTN gene and expression levels in pig breeds differing in muscularity. Animal Genetics. 2008; 39(6): 586–596. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2052.2008.01774.x

20. Dall’Olio S., Fontanesi L., Nanni Costa L., Tassinari M., Minieri L., Falaschini A. Analysis of horse myostatin gene and identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms in breeds of different morphological types. Journal of Biomedicine and Biotechnology. 2010; 2010: 542945. https://doi.org/10.1155/2010/542945