title: Characterization of leptin receptor gene in Bubalus bubalis and association analysis with body measurement traits.
abstract: Leptin has a pleiotropic effect on regulating appetite, energy metabolism, growth, reproduction, body composition and immunity. This property supports leptin and its receptor as candidate genes for evaluating genetic polymorphisms to associate with growth, milk yield and other economic traits. The aim of this study is to characterize the leptin receptor gene in Bubalus bubalis, to identify single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in different coding and non-coding regions and to analyse potential associations between SNPs identified and the body measurements traits of growing buffalo heifers. A group of 64 animals were genotyped by direct sequencing and twenty-eight SNPs were detected. A sequence analysis revealed the presence of nine interesting SNPs in gene sequence. The association analysis of polymorphisms with the body measurements traits of growing buffalo heifers shows significant statistical effects on chest depth and sacrum height. Therefore according to the results obtained from this study, the leptin receptor gene appears to have potential effects on the body measurement traits of Bubalus bubalis.
authors.affiliation: Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura - CRA, PCM, Animal Production Research Centre, Monterotondo, Italy, giovanna.dematteis@entecra.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Matteis
authors.forename: Maria Carmela
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Scatà
authors.forename: Gennaro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Catillo
authors.forename: Giuseppina Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Terzano
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Grandoni
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Napolitano
mesh_terms: D024509:3' Flanking Region / Q000235:genetics; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures / Q000379:methods; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D054411:Receptors, Leptin