Authors : Yaojing Yue, Jianbin Liu, Tingting Guo, Xiaoping Sun, Jian Guo, XiaLiang , Ruilin Feng, Chune Niu and Bihui Yang
Abstract: Keratin Intermediate Filament (KIF) is a key member of the keratin family of proteins. In this study, High-Resolution Melting (HRM) analysis and DNA sequencing were used to detect polymorphisms of the Keratin intermediate-filaments 31 (KRT 31) gene in three Gansu Alpine fine wool sheep strains (fine, super fine and dual purpose strain) (n = 448) and to determine impacts of genotype for KRT 31 on expression of wool traits. Results showed that there were a total of two Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) identified as KRT 31 SNP c.166A>G and c.191T>C. The mutation site c.166 (SNP c.166A>G) results in a missense mutation from Asn to Ser. The mutation at site c.191 (SNP c.191T>C) does not alter the amino acid sequence. The χ2-test showed that the genotype distributions in these three strains of the SNP c.166A>G and SNP c.191T>C were not all in agreement with Hardy Weinberg equilibrium. Furthermore, analysis of the impact of KRT 31 gene polymorphism on wool traits in three Gansu Alpine fine wool sheep strains indicated that the mean fiber diameter for KRT31c.166A>G genotype AA and AG was smaller than genotype GG (p<0.05) suggesting this mutation could potentially be exploited in gene marker-assisted selection programmes within the wool industry to select for animals with decreased fiber diameter.
Yaojing Yue, Jianbin Liu, Tingting Guo, Xiaoping Sun, Jian Guo, XiaLiang , Ruilin Feng, Chune Niu and Bihui Yang, 2014. Polymorphism of the Keratin 31 Gene in Different Gansu Alpine Fine-Wool Sheep Strains by High Resolution Melting Curve Analysis. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 13: 627-632.