Molecular genetics analysis of milk protein gene polymorphism of dairy cows and breeding bulls in Latvia

ArticleMilk protein is the most valuable component of milk from a dietary point of view. More than 95% of ruminants’ milk proteins are coded by six structural genes: two whey proteins (α – lactalbumin and β – lactoglobulin) and four caseins (α S1 – and α S2 – caseins, β – casein, κ – casein). The object of the research was the genetic polymorphisms of milk protein genes in populations of cows and breeding bulls of milk producing breeds in Latvia. The aim was to promote cow breeding in Latvia by developing and testing mo lecular genetics analyses for future quantity and quality analysis of the dairy cows’ population in Latvia, based on the research of genes encoding milk protein polymorphism. In methodology the molecular markers were chosen which would be suitable for char acterization of polymorphism of five milk protein genes in the population of dairy cows reared in Latvia. As a genetic method chosen the Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) method and most analysed alleles of milk proteins. Using data of 719 DN A samples of dairy cows, the analysis of Latvian cows’ population was carried out through six SNP of five milk protein genes: C SN1S1 c. – 175 A > G, CSN2 – c. 4451 A > C, CSN3 c. 11625 C > T and c. 11661 A > C, LAA c.15A > G and LGB c. 3106T > C. The results of PCR - RFLP analysis showed, as it was expected, that all genotypes were found in the populations

Comparison of cytoplasmic and autosomal DNA diversity patterns in Baltic sheep

vo

Detection of prion protein gene polymorphisms in Baltic breeds of sheep

A total of 167 sheep belonging to the Estonian whiteheaded mutton, Estonian blackheaded mutton, Lithuanian coarsewool native, Lithuanian blackface and Latvian darkheaded mutton breeds, and a population of sheep kept isolated on the Estonian island of Ruhnu, were sequence-analysed for polymorphisms in the prion protein (PrP) gene, to determine their genotype and the allele frequencies of polymorphisms in PrP known to confer resistance to scrapie. A 939 base pair fragment of exon 3 from the PrP gene was amplified by pcr and analysed by direct sequencing. For animals showing polymorphism at two nucleotide positions, both haplotypes of these double-heterozygous genotypes were further verified by pcr cloning and sequence analysis. Known polymorphisms were observed at codons 136, 154 and 171, and six different haplotypes (arr, ahq, arh, ahr, arq and vrq) were determined. On the basis of these polymorphisms, the six populations of sheep possessed the resistant arr haplotype at different frequencies. The high-risk arq haplotype occurred in high frequencies in all six populations, but vrq, the haplotype carrying the highest risk, occurred at low frequencies and in only three of the populations

Cattle breed diversity in Northern Europe and Baltic regions as assessed by blood markers

vo

Analysis and Comparison of Genetic Diversity in Cattle Breeds of Northern European Area (N-EURO-CAD)

vo

Native breeds demonstrate high contributions to the molecular variation in Northern European sheep

v2005o

Biodiversity studies of baltic-nordic domestic animal genetic recources (angr)

vo

Microsatellite analysis for making conservation priorities among North European cattle breeds

vo

Prioritization for conservation of Northern European cattle breeds based on analysis of microsatellite data

v2006okBEL/GD