A novel single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 5' upstream region of the prolactin receptor gene is associated with fiber traits in Liaoning cashmere goats.
The most important traits of Chinese Liaoning cashmere  goat fiber are fiber diameter, weight, and length. We looked for polymorphisms  and their possible association with cashmere fiber traits in the 5' upstream  region (5' UTR) of the prolactin receptor gene (PRLR), which encodes an  anterior pituitary peptide hormone involved in different physiological  activities; it is the principal endocrine regulator in pelage replacement in  mammals. A novel single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was found in the 5' UTR  of PRLR by PCR-RFLP in an analysis of 590 goats. Two genotypes (CC and  CT) were observed. The frequencies of allele C and T were 0.93 and 0.07,  respectively. Association analysis revealed that the PRLR 5' UTR  polymorphism (SNP5) was significantly associated with cashmere fiber weight and  diameter. This novel SNP in hircine PRLR has potential as a molecular  marker for cashmere fiber weight and diameter in Liaoning cashmere goats.
State Key Laboratory for Animal Nutrition, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China.
J P
JP
Zhou
X P
XP
Zhu
W
W
Zhang
F
F
Qin
S W
SW
Zhang
Z H
ZH
Jia
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D006041:Goats / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin / Q000235:genetics*; D014935:Wool
D020121:5' Untranslated Regions; D011981:Receptors, Prolactin