title: Genetic variation in the beta, beta-carotene-9', 10'-dioxygenase gene and association with fat colour in bovine adipose tissue and milk.
abstract: beta, beta-carotene-9', 10'-dioxygenase (BCO2) plays a role in cleaving beta-carotene eccentrically, and may be involved in the control of adipose and milk colour in cattle. The bovine BCO2 gene was sequenced as a potential candidate gene for a beef fat colour QTL on chromosome (BTA) 15. A single nucleotide base change located in exon 3 causes the substitution of a stop codon (encoded by the A allele) for tryptophan(80) (encoded by the G allele) (c. 240G>A, p.Trp80stop, referred to herein as SNP W80X). Association analysis showed significant differences in subcutaneous fat colour and beta-carotene concentration amongst cattle with different BCO2 genotypes. Animals with the BCO2 AA genotype had more yellow beef fat and a higher beta-carotene concentration in adipose tissues than those with the GA or GG genotype. QTL mapping analysis with the BCO2 SNP W80X fitted as a fixed effect confirmed that this SNP is likely to represent the quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) for the fat colour-related traits on BTA 15. Moreover, animals with the AA genotype had yellower milk colour and a higher concentration of beta-carotene in the milk.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Roseworthy SA 5371 Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Pitchford
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: C D K
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Bottema
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D008892:Milk / Q000737:chemistry*; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019207:beta Carotene; D010105:Oxygenases