Polymorphisms of coding region of BMPR-IB gene and their relationship with litter size in sheep.
The bone morphogenetic protein receptor IB (BMPR-IB) was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of sheep. Nine pairs of primers (P1-P9) were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of exons 1-4 and 6-10 of the BMPR-IB gene in both high (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and low prolificacy breeds (Texel and Chinese Merino sheep) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Only the products amplified by primers P2, P5, P6, P7, P8 and P9 displayed polymorphisms. The present study identified 22 SNPs in partial coding regions of ovine BMPR-IB, in which 20 SNPs were reported for the first time. In total of the 22 mutations, 18 DNA variations were originated from the Hu breed, three were found in the Small Tail Han breed (two of them were found in other sheep breeds), three in the Chinese Merino breed, and none in the Texel breed. These results preliminarily demonstrated that BMPR-IB is a major gene affecting the hyperprolificacy in Small Tail Han and Hu sheep, and could be used as a molecular genetic marker for early auxiliary selection for hyperprolificacy in sheep.
Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100193, China. mxchu@263.net
Mingxing
M
Chu
Lihua
L
Jia
Yingjie
Y
Zhang
Mei
M
Jin
Hongquan
H
Chen
Li
L
Fang
Ran
R
Di
Guiling
G
Cao
Tao
T
Feng
Qianqian
Q
Tang
Yuehui
Y
Ma
Kui
K
Li
D000818:Animals; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics; D001947:Breeding; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics*; D016366:Open Reading Frames / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*
D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I