TEAD3, implicated by association to grilsing in Atlantic salmon

•We identified a putative gene partially responsible for early maturation in Atlantic salmon.•We found that genotype information from the TEAD3 and Vgll3 confirmed an association of these loci with early maturation.•A novel insight into how early maturation in Atlantic salmon might be determined is discussed.

With the recent finding that the vestigial-like family member 3 (Vgll3) gene is associated with early maturation, we decided to re-examine previously reported quantitative trait loci (QTL) and genome wide association (GWA) studies, involved with early maturation, to see if Vgll3 was the source of any of these associations. Using a TaqMan assay for Vgll3, we were able to verify that a prominent QTL for early maturation was indeed associated with Vgll3. Next, we used Vgll3 genotypes as a cofactor to re-examine for any additional QTLs or GWAs. Several were found at the chromosome-wide significance level. By examining interacting partners of Vgll3 from other organisms, we identified several candidate genes that may interact with Vgll3 in Atlantic salmon and effect early maturation. The location of these genes were determined from the genome sequence, while markers near QTL were examined to see if they were near any Vgll3 interacting genes. In this way, we identified TEAD3 as a putative gene also influencing early maturation in Atlantic salmon. A TaqMan assay was used to genotype TEAD3. These genotypes appear to be associated with early maturation.