Bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) is of the BMP subfamily, and has effects on female fertility by regulating steroidogenesis, granulosa cell states, and follicular development. In the present study, there was assessment of the combined genotypes formed by the three variants within the 3′-UTR of BMP7 gene as associations with sow reproductive functions. The 3′-UTR of the BMP7 gene of pigs was identified using the 3′ RACE assay, and its full-length sequence was found to be 1538 bp in length. Multiple RNA regulatory elements were detected in this region, luciferase activity assays were performed and results indicated miR-22−3p affects BMP7 by directly binding to the miRNA response element in the 3′-UTR (c.2358–2382). In addition, two novel complete linkage variants, c.2256 G > C and a 7-bp indel (c.2259–2265), were identified within the 3′-UTR of the BMP7 gene of pigs. Importantly, combined genotypes with these two novel variants and c.1569A > G, a variant previously identified in the BMP7 3′-UTR of pigs, were associated with sow reproductive traits, including the total number of piglets born, number of dead piglets at birth, and litter weight in the Yorkshire pig population studies. Results from the present study confirm that BMP7 is a candidate gene for the reproductive traits in Yorkshire sows.

骨形态发生蛋白 7 (BMP7) 属于 BMP 亚家族，通过调节类固醇生成、颗粒细胞状态和卵泡发育对女性生育能力产生影响。在本研究中，评估了BMP7基因3'-UTR 内三个变体形成的组合基因型与母猪繁殖功能的关联。猪BMP7基因的3'-UTR经3'RACE法鉴定，全长1538bp。在该区域检测到多个 RNA 调控元件，进行了荧光素酶活性测定，结果表明 miR-22-3p 影响BMP7通过直接结合 3'-UTR (c.2358–2382) 中的 miRNA 反应元件。此外，在猪的BMP7基因的 3'-UTR 中鉴定了两种新的完全连锁变体，c.2256 G > C 和 7-bp 插入缺失（c.2259-2265）。重要的是，将基因型与这两个新变体和 c.1569A > G（先前在猪的BMP7 3'-UTR 中发现的变体）结合起来，与母猪繁殖性状有关，包括出生仔猪总数、约克郡猪群研究中的出生和窝重。本研究的结果证实BMP7是约克夏母猪繁殖性状的候选基因。