DNA polymorphisms of the Hu sheep melanocortin-4 receptor gene associated with birth weight and 45-day weaning weight.
The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) has important roles  in regulating food intake, energy balance, and body weight in mammals. In pigs  and cattle, MC4R mutations have been identified as genetic markers for  growth and traits. Compared with abundant research conducted on other livestock  species, little is known about mutations of the ovine MC4R gene. We  investigated the effect of MC4R polymorphisms on birth weight and on  45-day weaning weight in 144 Hu sheep. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms  (SNPs; g.1016 G/A, g.1240 T/C, g.1264 G/A, and g.1325 A/G) were identified in  the 3ꞌ-untranslated  region of Hu sheep MC4R by PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism  and DNA sequencing. A haplotype block, containing g.1240 T/C, g.1264 G/A, and  g.1325 A/G, was constructed within the Hu sheep MC4R gene. Four SNPs  were found to be significantly associated with 45-day weaning weight, while the  haplotype block was significantly associated with birth weight. Hu sheep with  the genotypes GG in g.1016 G/A or with the genotype CCAAGG in the haplotype  block, had higher 45-day weaning weights. We conclude that these 4 SNPs of the MC4R gene have potential as genetic markers for early growth traits in Hu sheep.
Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China. songxuemei@yeah.net
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Song
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Zhang
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D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005819:Genetic Markers; D005838:Genotype; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D034561:Sheep, Domestic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D014886:Weaning
D005819:Genetic Markers; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4