| Summary: | The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between the platelet-derived growth factor-D (<i>PDGF-D</i>) gene and sheep tail type character and explore the potential underlying mechanism. A total of 533 sheep were included in this study. Polymorphic sites were examined by Pool-seq, and individual genotype identification and correlation analysis between tail type data were conducted using the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MALDI-TOF-MS) method. JASPART website was used to predict transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region with and without <i>PDGF-D</i> gene mutation. The effect of <i>PDGF-D</i> on adipogenic differentiation of sheep preadipocytes was investigated. Two single nucleotide polymorphism sites were identified: g.4122606 C > G site was significantly correlated with tail length, and g.3852134 C > T site was significantly correlated with tail width. g.3852134 C > T was located in the promoter region. Six transcription factor binding sites were eliminated after promoter mutation, and three new transcription factor binding sites appeared. Expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (<i>PPARγ</i>) and lipoproteinlipase (<i>LPL</i>) were significantly up-regulated upon <i>PDGF-D</i> overexpression. Oil red O staining showed increased small and large oil drops in the <i>PDGF-D</i> overexpression group. Together these results indicate the <i>PDGF-D</i> gene is an important gene controlling sheep tail shape and regulating sheep tail fat deposition to a certain degree.
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