title: Polymorphisms of KiSS-1 and GPR54 genes and their relationships with litter size in sheep.
abstract: The KiSS-1 and GPR54 genes were studied as candidate genes for the prolificacy in sheep. Four pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms of exon 1 of KiSS-1 gene and exon 1, exon 2 and partial exon 5 of GPR54 gene in high fecundity breeds (Small Tail Han and Hu sheep) and low fecundity breeds (Dorset, Texel and Corriedale sheep) by PCR-SSCP. Polymorphisms in exon 1 of KiSS-1 gene were detected in prolific Small Tail Han sheep (AA, AB and BB genotypes) and Hu sheep (AA and CC genotypes), no polymorphism was found in low fecundity sheep breeds (only AA genotype). Polymorphisms in exon 2 of GPR54 gene were detected in prolific Hu sheep (DD and EE genotypes) and no polymorphism was found in prolific Small Tail Han sheep and low fecundity sheep breeds (only DD genotype). No polymorphism was detected in exon 1 and partial exon 5 of GPR54 gene in five sheep breeds. The polymorphic genotypes were sequenced. While compared the BB genotype with the AA genotype, one nucleotide mutation (G1035A) was detected, which resulted in amino acid change, Val25Met. Five nucleotide mutations were detected from AA to CC genotype (C981T, C996T, T997C, C1034G, C1039T), and among them four caused amino acid changes, that is, Arg7Trp, Phe12Leu, Asn24Lys, Ala26Val. While compared the EE genotype with the DD genotype, two nucleotide mutations (T2360C, A2411C) were detected, which gave rise to amino acid changes, Met90Thr and Asp107Ala, respectively. Genotype frequencies of AA, BB and AB were 0.62, 0.05 and 0.33 in Small Tail Han sheep, respectively. The Small Tail Han sheep ewes with genotype BB or AB had 0.88 (P < 0.05) or 0.51 (P < 0.05) lambs more than those with genotype AA; the Small Tail Han sheep ewes with genotype BB had 0.37 (P > 0.05) lambs more than those with genotype AB. These results preliminarily indicated that the KiSS-1 gene may have some association with prolificacy in sheep.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Farm Animal Genetic Resources and Utilization of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 100193 Beijing, People's Republic of China. mxchu@263.net
authors.forename: Mingxing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Chaoting
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Guiling
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Ran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Di
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Dongwei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Yuehui
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Kui
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005298:Fertility / Q000235:genetics; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics*; D016014:Linear Models; D008098:Litter Size / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020125:Mutation, Missense / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012756:Sheep / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D059648:Kisspeptins; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled