Authors : Ayane Sagawa, Koh Nomura, Akira Fujii, Mai Kotani, Yoshio Nagura, Shuji Sato, Yukimizu Takahash, Hirofumi Hanada and Eiji Kobayashi
Abstract: Melatonin Receptor 1A (MTNR1A) is a potential candidate gene that may affect seasonal reproduction in goats. The aim of this study was to search for Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in the goat MTNR1A gene. Coding exons (1 and 2) were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Sequencing showed that the entire goat MTNR1A coding region consists of 1101 nucleotides and 366 deduced amino acids. The goat MTNR1A (exon 1) nucleotide sequence is most highly homologous to sheep (99.6%) and most distant to mouse and human (77.1 and 85%, respectively). The MTNR1A amino acid sequence is again most similar to sheep (98.6%) and most distant to human and mouse (83.0 and 83.9%). The goat MTNR1A gene differs between Japanese Saanen, Shiba, Boer and three Asian native goats with 18 potential nucleotide substitutions in the coding region and 3 SNPs in the 3' non-coding region. Eleven novel SNPs were detected in this study, adding to 10 SNPs earlir reported. The SNPs were differently distributed among the breeds examined in this study. Haplotype analysis indicated that there are 13 types in the samples and different distributions of any haplotype similar to the SNPs one. Ten SNPs were detected following PCR-RFLP using suitable restriction enzymes. These results provide valuable information on polymorphisms in goat breed genotypes which may be used for further characterization and comparative studies in goat breeds.
Ayane Sagawa, Koh Nomura, Akira Fujii, Mai Kotani, Yoshio Nagura, Shuji Sato, Yukimizu Takahash, Hirofumi Hanada and Eiji Kobayashi, 2012. Nucleotide Sequence, SNPs and Haplotypes among Breeds of Goat Melatonin Receptor 1A Gene. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 4022-4029.