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© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.

Abstract

Simple Summary

This study explores the genetic diversity of the casein gene cluster, a key component in milk protein production, across various Bovidae species, including cattle, buffaloes, and antelopes. The lack of genetic data for wild bovids hampers the understanding of milk protein expression and the improvement of dairy breeds. The researchers assessed the feasibility of using a cattle-specific SNP microarray to analyze genetic variation in 12 Bovidae taxa, representing 5 different subfamilies. The positive results enabled the examination of genetic variations and their potential impact on milk protein production. The findings revealed high genetic diversity in these genes among domestic cattle and certain wild species, such as the lechwe, suggesting variations in milk protein expression. The study demonstrated that cattle-derived SNP chips are effective tools for examining genetic diversity in other Bovidae species. Moreover, the relatively low cost of SNP microarrays and the ability of third-party companies to scan them make genomic analysis applicable to a wide range of research areas.

Abstract

The casein gene cluster spans 250 to 350 kb across mammalian species and is flanked by non-coding DNA with largely unknown functions. These regions likely harbor elements regulating the expression of the 4 casein genes. In Bovidae, this cluster is well studied in domestic cattle and to a lesser extent in zebu and water buffalo. This study used a cattle-specific SNP microarray to analyze 12 Bovidae taxa and estimate casein gene cluster variability across 5 bovid subfamilies. Genotyping identified 126 SNPs covering the entire casein gene cluster and 2 Mb of upstream and downstream regions. Dairy cattle, watusi, and zebu showed the highest polymorphism: 63.7–68.2% in the 5′-upstream region, 35.6–40.0% in the casein cluster, and 40.4–89.4% in the 3′-downstream region. Among wild bovids, only a ‘semi-aquatic’ lechwe revealed high polymorphism similar to cattle. Other species exhibited lower variability, ranging from 9.1–27.3% in the 5′-upstream, 8.9–20.0% in the casein, and 4.2–10.6% in the 3′-downstream regions. For the first time, genome variability data were obtained for impala, waterbuck, and lechwe. It appears that higher variability in cattle’s casein gene cluster may relate to its intense expression. This study confirms the effectiveness of cattle-derived microarrays for genotyping Bovidae.

Details

Title
Molecular Diversity of the Casein Gene Cluster in Bovidae: Insights from SNP Microarray Analysis
Author
Malewski, Tadeusz 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Kamiński, Stanisław 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Śmiełowski, Jan 3 ; Oleński, Kamil 2   VIAFID ORCID Logo  ; Bogdanowicz, Wiesław 1   VIAFID ORCID Logo 

 Department of Molecular and Biometric Techniques, Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences, 00-818 Warszawa, Poland; [email protected] 
 Department of Animal Genetics, University of Warmia and Mazury, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland; [email protected] (S.K.); [email protected] (K.O.) 
 Independent Researcher, 60-809 Poznań, Poland; [email protected] 
First page
3034
Publication year
2024
Publication date
2024
Publisher
MDPI AG
e-ISSN
20762615
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
3120512762
Copyright
© 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.