Integrative multi-omics analysis of growth plate regulation underlying body size in miniature pigs
Body size represents a complex phenotype driven by genetic variation and epigenetic regulation, with the molecular processes underlying this trait remaining a central challenge to disentangle. To elucidate these fundamental mechanisms, we apply a multi-omics approach that combines ROH-based selection mapping with growth plate epigenomics in pigs. Taking advantage of divergent selection that separates pigs into miniature and larger-sized groups, we target genomic regions under this intense selection for height, which harbour functional variants with pronounced effects. We assemble a multi-omics dataset, identifying homozygous alternative SNPs in Aachen Minipigs and Mini-LEWE predicted to affect cis-regulatory elements potentially interacting with differentially expressed genes that drive body size in breed-dependent ways. Our results point to an lncRNA (ENSSSCG00000048200) near SDR16C5 and PLAG1, HPX and NET-related pathways, as central players in the growth plates. In summary, our study offers a multi-layered characterisation of regulatory mechanisms in the growth plates in the pig model.
Authors
- Abeera Fatima
- Martin Vingron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1765-4241)
- Gisa Gerold (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1326-5038)
- Klaus Jung (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9955-748X)
- Gordon Grabert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5499-9970)
- René Buschow (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9800-2578)
- Alexander Grahofer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6030-3586)
- Cord Drögemüller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9773-522X)
- Stefan Mundlos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9788-3166)
- Ralf Herwig (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9335-1760)
- Nadia Khaveh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7661-1674)
- Julia Metzger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2089-8933)
- Tim Kacprowski (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5393-2413)
- Bai-Wei Lo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1765-884X)
- Jan Berghöfer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2681-4064)
- Karsten Cirksena (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5283-6171)
- Roya Shiasi Sardoabi
- Brehm Ralph
Institutions
- University of Bern (CH)
- Innsbruck Medical University (AT)
- University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (DE)
- Universität Innsbruck (AT)
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (DE)
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (DE)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Technische Universität Braunschweig (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Communications Biology
- Published
- 2026-06-30
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-026-10538-9
- Primary Topic
- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft