Longevity-related genes have been found in humans, mice, dogs and in several other animal species. The goal of this study was to perform genetic analysis of long-lived European bisons with the aim to find genes that are associated with longevity using GWAS and further sequencing of a wider sample panel. European bison has a unique history of near extinction and the recovery of the species from just a few founder individuals. Together with the short medium lifespan, the expected genetic homogeneity makes bison a suitable model for studying longevity. Particular single nucleotide polymorphisms within three genes, BCKDHB, FER1L6 and SERPINI2, were found significantly overrepresented in long-lived European bisons. In SERPINI2, the longevity-associated single nucleotide polymorphism localizes to an exon. In the protein encoded by the SERPINI2 gene, amino acid leucine present in the reference European bisons is replaced by tryptophan in the long-lived animals. This study is the first to determine longevity-associated variants in genes in European bison. Association of the FER1L6 gene with longevity shows a possible sex dependency.

Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences Vídeňská 1083 142 20 Prague 4 Czech Republic

Zoologická zahrada Tábor a s Dukelských Hrdinů 19 170 00 Prague 7 Czech Republic

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