A SINE element in the canine D2 dopamine receptor gene and its chromosomal location

Association of STAT5A Gene Variants with Milk Production Traits in Agerolese Cattle

Two polymorphisms at STAT5A gene were investigated in a sample of Agerolese cows. The aims of the present study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies and to investigate the relationship among genotypes and milk production traits. Milk production traits were analyzed for each animal in the first, second, third, and fourth lactation. No genetic variability was found at STAT5A/AvaI locus. At STAT5A/MslI locus, the frequencies of T and C alleles were 0.875 and 0.125, respectively. Significant differences between genotypes were found: TT cow produced a milk with a higher content of fat and protein when compared with TC.

Bovine STAT5A gene polymorphism and its influence on growth traits in Podolica breed

Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) are latent cytoplasmic transcription factors that mediate the actions of a variety of peptide hormones and cytokines within target cells. STAT5A is the main mediator of growth hormone action on target genes and plays a key role as intracellular mediator of prolactin signalling. In this study, the T→C nucleotide polymorphism at position 12 743 in exon 16 of the bovine STAT5A gene was investigated with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in a sample of Podolica young bulls. The Podolica breed derives from Bos primigenius podolicus (forebears of the modern Bos taurus), it has been present in Italy for a very long time and represents yet another example of successful biological adaptation to a hostile environment. The aims of this study were to estimate the allele and genotype frequencies in Podolica breed and to investigate a possible relationship between this polymorphism and some growth performance traits. The observed frequencies of C and T alleles were 0.344 and 0.656, respectively. The TT genotype was the most frequent in the studied population followed by TC and CC ones. Moreover, the animals carrying TT genotypes seem to show an initial faster growth, which determined higher bodyweight at 90 and 270 days of age; conversely, CC individuals exhibit a faster growth in the post-weaning period achieving the higher bodyweight at 450 days of age.

Optimization of Saanen sperm genes amplification: evaluation of standardized protocols in genetically uncharacterized rural goats reared under a subtropical environment

The purpose of this research is to optimize quantitatively the amplification of specific sperm genes in reference genomically characterized Saanen goat and to evaluate the standardized protocols applicability on sperms of uncharacterized genome of rural goats reared under subtropical environment for inclusion in future selection programs. The optimization of the protocols in Saanen sperms included three production genes (growth hormone (GH) exons 2, 3, and 4, αS1-casein (CSN1S1), and α-lactalbumin) and two health genes (MHC class II DRB and prion (PrP)). The optimization was based on varying the primers concentrations and the inclusion of a PCR cosolvent (Triton X). The impact of the studied variables on statistically significant increase in the yield of amplicons was noticed in four out of five (80%) optimized protocols, namely in those related to GH, CSN1S1, α-lactalbumin, and PrP genes (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the yield of amplicons related to MHC class II DRB gene, regardless of the variables used (P > 0.05). The applicability of the optimized protocols of Saanen sperm genes on amplification of uncharacterized rural goat sperms revealed a 100% success in tested individuals for amplification of GH, CSN1S1, α-lactalbumin, and MHC class II DRB genes and a 75% success for the PrP gene. The significant success in applicability of the Saanen quantitatively optimized protocols to other uncharacterized genome of rural goats allows for their inclusion in future selection, targeting the sustainability of this farming system in a subtropical environment and the improvement of the farmers livelihood.

The coding sequence of the ASIP gene is identical in nine wild-type coloured cattle breeds

The aim of this study was to ascertain the role of the Agouti signaling peptide (ASIP) gene coding region in the Agouti locus variation within wild-type coat colour in cattle. We determined the Extension genotype in 241 individuals from six Spanish and three French brown cattle breeds representative of wild-type coat variation. Polymerase chain reaction-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was carried out in individuals of each Extension genotypes within the same breed in an attempt to identify variants in the three coding exons of the ASIP gene. No SSCP variants were found. Results were confirmed by sequencing the coding exons of the ASIP gene in 20 individuals. Our results suggest that the ASIP coding region does not play a central role in coat colour variation in cattle.

Retrotransposon insertion in SILV is responsible for merle patterning of the domestic dog

Merle is a pattern of coloring observed in the coat of the domestic dog and is characterized by patches of diluted pigment. This trait is inherited in an autosomal, incompletely dominant fashion. Dogs heterozygous or homozygous for the merle locus exhibit a wide range of auditory and ophthalmologic abnormalities, which are similar to those observed for the human auditory-pigmentation disorder Waardenburg syndrome. Mutations in at least five genes have been identified as causative for Waardenburg syndrome; however, the genetic bases for all cases have not been determined. Linkage disequilibrium was identified for a microsatellite marker with the merle phenotype in the Shetland Sheepdog. The marker is located in a region of CFA10 that exhibits conservation of synteny with HSA12q13. This region of the human genome contains SILV, a gene important in mammalian pigmentation. Therefore, this gene was evaluated as a candidate for merle patterning. A short interspersed element insertion at the boundary of intron 10/exon 11 was found, and this insertion segregates with the merle phenotype in multiple breeds. Another finding was deletions within the oligo(dA)-rich tail of the short interspersed element. Such deletions permit normal pigmentation. These data show that SILV is responsible for merle patterning and is associated with impaired function of the auditory and ophthalmologic systems. Although the mutant phenotype of SILV in the human is unknown, these results make it an intriguing candidate gene for human auditory-pigmentation disorders.