title: Polymorphism in the melatonin receptor gene in buffalo populations of the Brazilian Amazon.
abstract: Buffalo farming in Brazil is increasing, as is the challenge of identifying molecular markers that will improve productivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze single nucleotide polymorphisms of the receptor gene for the hormone melatonin in buffaloes from northern Brazil by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) and restriction fragment length polymorphism assays. The PCR products exhibited a cutting point for HpaI at the 318th position of the gene, indicating a transition substitution (T↔C). This substitution was synonymic, and did not alter the stability of the mRNA structure. Allelic and genotypic frequencies differed between the populations studied, and all of the populations demonstrated endogamy and were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Therefore, the HpaI restriction marker in the melatonin receptor gene cannot be used for genetic improvement, but is an excellent marker for population genetic studies.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal do Amapá, Mazagão, AP, Brasil.
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: B B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Capanema, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: J S N
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: H F L
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Rolim Filho
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde e Produção Animal, Universidade Federal Rural da Amazônia, Belém, PA, Brasil.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Silva Filho
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000235:genetics*; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D044094:Receptors, Melatonin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D044094:Receptors, Melatonin