Original scientific paper
Characterization of the SREBP-1 Gene Polymorphisms and Milk Traits in Dairy Sheep
Giovanni Cosso
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Cinzia Daga
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Sebastiano Luridiana
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Maria Consuelo Mura
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Federico Farci
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Luisa Pulinas
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Maria Veronica Di Stefano
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Pier Paolo Bini
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Vincenzo Carcangiu
; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sassari University, Via Vienna 2, 07100, Sassari, Italia
Abstract
The SREBP genes (Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Proteins) are involved in the milk fat synthesis. In dairy cows some polymorphisms at the SREBP-1 gene sequence have been related with milk fat content. The aim of this study was to characterize the entire coding regions of the SREBP-1 gene in Sarda sheep breed, in order to highlight any polymorphisms and their association with milk traits. Four-hundred adult and lactating Sarda ewes were selected. Individual milk yield was recorded monthly from Day 30 to Day 150 of lactation, and fat and protein concentration were analysed. A blood sample from each ewe was taken for DNA extraction; thus, all the 19 coding exons of the SREBP-1 gene were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis (SSCP) and sequencing were used to scan mutations. Results provide, for the first time, the entire coding DNA sequence (CDS) of the SREBP-1 gene in sheep, and by sequences analysis 8 polymorphisms have been detected. The statistical analysis exhibited no relationship between polymorphisms and milk traits. The low SREBP-1 gene diversity that emerged from the present study, may be linked to the important role of this gene in the mechanism of milk fat synthesis or to the severe genetic selection performed in the Sarda sheep. However, it would be necessary to extend the study, including other breeds and other genes, in order to expanding the knowledge about the process of milk fat synthesis in dairy sheep.
Keywords
Single nucleotide polymorphism; SREBP-1 gene; milk fat synthesis; dairy sheep
Hrčak ID:
191840
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2017.
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