Study On Five Candidate Genes For Prolificacy In Goats

ADAMTS1and RIP140were studied as candidate genes for litter size in Jining Grey goats. Thepolymorphisms were detected using gene cloning, PCR-RFLP, then its associations with litter size werealso analyzed.The result of the present study will be helpful for marker-assisted selection for highprolificacy in goats.The exon5to exon9of ADAMTS1gene in goat were cloned and two silent mutations weredetected in exon5(C5034T) and exon6(A5356G) in high prolificacy breeds (Guizhou White andJining Grey goats) and low prolificacy breeds (Inner Mongolia Cashmere,Boer and Liaoning Cashmeregoats). For the5034locus, no significant difference (P>0.05) was found in litter size between differentgenotypes. For the5356locus, Jining Grey goat does with genotype TT and genotype CT had0.86(P<0.05) and0.82(P<0.05) kids more than those with genotype CC, respectively. No significantdifference (P>0.05) was found in litter size between TT and CT genotypes in Jining Grey goats. Theseresults preliminarily showed that allele T of ADAMTS1gene may be associated with litter size in goats.The whole CDS with3471bp in exon4of RIP140gene was obtained and one silent mutation(C822T) was identified. The results showed that three genotypes (TT, CT and CC) were detected inGuizhou White, Boer, Liaoning Cashmere and Jining Grey goats, only two genotypes (TT and CT) weredetected in Inner Mongolia Cashmere goat. Jining Grey goat does with genotype CT and CT had0.65(P<0.05) and0.81(P<0.05) kids more than those with genotype TT, respectively. No significantdifference (P>0.05) was found in litter size between CC and CT genotypes in Jining Grey goat. Theseresults preliminarily showed that allele C of RIP140gene may be associated with litter size in goats.RT-PCR method was used to amplify GDF9, BMP15and BMPR1B from different tissues inLiaoning Cashmere and Jining Grey goats. The results showed that GDF9and BMPR1B were widelyexpressed, BMP15gene was expressed only in ovary, but it was also detected to be expressed inpituitary by Real-time PCR method. These results indicated that Real-time PCR is more sensitive thanRT-PCR.In the present study, Real-time PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of GDF9andBMPR1B genes in hypothalamus, pituitary gland, ovary and uterus were not different between these twobreeds, respectively (P>0.05). The expression level of BMP15gene in ovary of Jining Grey goat was4.96-fold higher than that in Liaoning Cashmere goat (P<0.05). We concluded that BMP15gene may bethe key gene for the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats.