title: Isolation and molecular characterization of partial FSH and LH receptor genes in Arabian camels (Camelus dromedarius).
abstract: Very little is known aboutLHRandFSHRgenes of domestic dromedary camels. The main objective of this study was to determine and analyze partial genomic regions ofFSHRandLHRgenes in dromedary camels for the first time. To this end, a total of50 DNA samples belonging to dromedary camels raised in Iran were sent for sequencing (25 samples of each gene). We compared the nucleotide sequences ofCamelus dromedariuswith corresponding sequences of previously publishedFSHRandLHRgenes in bactrian camels and other species. According to the data, the same nucleotide variation was identified in both regions of the two camel species. The alignment of deduced protein sequences of the two different species revealed an amino acid variation at theFSHRregion. No evidence of amino acid variation was observed, however, inLHRsequences. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that both camel species had a close relationship and clustered together in a separate branch. This was further confirmed by genetic distance values illustrating significant sequence identity betweenCamelus dromedariusandCamelusbactrianus. Interestingly, sequence comparisons revealed heterozygote patterns inFSHRsequences isolated from dromedary camels of Iran. In comparison to other species, this camel contains three amino acid substitutions at 5, 67, and 105 positions in theFSHRcoding region. These positions are found exclusively in camels and can be considered as species specific. The results of our study can be used for hormone functionality research (FSHRandLHR) as well as reproduction-linked polymorphisms and breeding programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Saber
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jelokhani-Niaraki
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Mojtaba
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tahmoorespur
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitaraf-Sani
keywords: Camel; FSHR; LHR; Sequence