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ABSTRACT: The myostatin gene, also known as GDF8 (growth differentiation factor 8), is located on bovine chromosome 2 (BTA2); it has three exons and two introns. Myostatin is specifically expressed during embryonic development and in adult skeletal muscle, functioning as a negative regulatory protein. Several cattle breeds (Piedmontese, Belgian Blue and Blond'Aquitaine, and others) show polymorphisms in this gene; these polymorphisms are directly related to the double muscling phenotype. We looked for polymorphisms in the Nellore cattle myostatin gene and compared them with those known for taurine breeds. Seven regions, covering the three exons of this gene, were amplified by polymerase chain reaction and sequenced, including the untranslated region. DNA from 30 adult Nellore animals was collected; DNA sequencing revealed three, seven and four polymorphisms in exons 1, 2 and 3, respectively. We found previously reported polymorphisms, as well as several new ones; for instance, 37 polymorphisms were found in the untranslated region segment, and in introns 1 and 2 there were one and three polymorphisms, respectively. The high degree of allelic heterogeneity in the myostatin gene could be related to its high mutation rate; it also could be the result of a long history of artificial selection for meat production, which has probably favored such modifications and maintained them in cattle populations. These polymorphisms identified in Nellore cattle could be useful for breeding programs.
Genetics and molecular research: GMR 02/2009; 8(3):822-30. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The microsatellite loci FCA045, FCA077, FCA008, and FCA096 are highly variable molecular markers which were used to determine the genetic diversity in 148 captive Leopardus sp. The PCR-amplified products of microsatellite loci were characterized in ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer. Allele numbers, heterozygosity, polymorphism information content, exclusive allele number, and shared alleles were calculated. Sixty-five alleles were found and their sizes ranged from 116 to 216 bp in four microsatellite loci. The heterozygosity ranged from 0.36 to 0.81 in Leopardus pardalis, 0.57 to 0.67 in L. tigrinus and 0.80 to 0.92 in L. wiedii. The polymorphism information content was from 0.80 to 0.88 in L. pardalis, 0.76 to 0.88 in L. tigrinus and 0.77 to 0.90 in L. wiedii. The margay (L. wiedii) showed the highest index of polymorphism among the three species in this study. These results imply that microsatellite DNA markers can help in the study of the genetic diversity of Leopardus specimens.
Genetics and molecular research: GMR 02/2007; 6(2):382-9. · 1.18 Impact Factor
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S E C Santos,
H Murua Escobar,
L H Sider,
S Winkler,
S M Aoki,
M P Milazzotto,
F Campagnari,
C I Vannucchi,
J Bullerdiek,
I Nolte, J F Garcia
Animal Genetics 03/2004; 35(1):74-5. · 2.40 Impact Factor
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Animal Genetics 09/2000; 31(4):280-1. · 2.40 Impact Factor
