Analysis of 22 mutations within milk protein genes in Italian Friesian cattle

The bovine milk protein caseins, αS1-CN, β-CN, αS2-CN, and κ-CN are codified by four well characterized genes, named CSN1S1, CSN2, CSN1S2, and CSN3 respectively and clustered in a region of 250-kb of chromosome 6. A recent revision of milk protein nomenclature considering only protein polymorphisms indicates 8 αS1-CN, 4 αS2-CN, 12 β-CN, and 11 κ-CN variants within the genus Bos. Other mutations were found in the non-coding regions of the cluster, such as the promoter regions or the 3'UTR. Many of these polymorphisms, together with others in various genes, such as the one coding for β-lactoglobulin (LGB), show important associations with different milk quality traits. Analyzing all these polymorphisms could help clarify the role of both the casein haplotype and the other polymorphisms in milk composition and cheese-making properties, and could explain which polymorphisms are really or mostly involved. The mPCR-LDR-UA approach recently developed to test simultaneously 22 SNPs in DNA regions responsible for milk protein expression was used to type 250 Italian Friesian cattle. In perfect agreement with literature, the most frequent alleles were CSN1S1*B, CSN2*A2, CSN3*A, variant 2 of CSN1S1 promoter, and variant A of Bov-A2 element. A quite balanced frequency was observed for the LGB*A and LGB*B. No CSN2*C, CSN3*C, and CSN3*H alleles were found. The CSN1S1*C, CSN2*A3, CSN2*I alleles were detected only at the heterozygous condition and at a frequency lower than 2%. The method allowed also finding some unusual intragenic haplotype, such as the Bov-A2 element-CSN3 haplotypes A-B and B-E. As to LGB one of the four SNPs tested was always homozygous for the same mutation, as already noticed. This finding confirms that this synonymous SNP is probably a sequencing mistake or a rare mutation not decisive for the LGB typing in the Italian Friesian. Reducing cost and time for typing simultaneously many SNPs, the method will be applied to a greater number of individuals and to other breeds, aiming to find out a number of animals for each haplotype sufficient for accurate statistical analysis to give a better understanding of the significance of milk protein polymorphism

Si-atoms substitutions effects on the electronic and optical properties of coronene and ovalene

We report a computational comparative study of the ground and excited states properties of graphene nanoribbons, analyzing the case of coronene (C24H12) and ovalene (C32H14) and their silicon-atoms substituted counterparts with single, double and triple atomic insertions. We used density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT to quantify the effects on the electronic and optical properties as a result of the chemical modifications. In particular, we compared ground-state total energies, electron affinities, ionization energies, fundamental gaps and optical absorption spectra, between the original systems and each substituted one. For both the molecules, we observed a general reduction of the fundamental gap after chemical modification. Concerning the optical properties, therefore, we observed a redshift of the optical onset in all the cases; in particular, we have found that, in one ovalene and coronene trimer-substituted configuration, the absorption edge takes place in the IR

Casein haplotype variability in Apulian goat breeds

Due to the tight linkage among the casein genes, the study of the haplotype variability is a necessary approach in order to identify important effects which could be exploited for the genetic improvement of goat species, showing considerable casein genetic variation. The aim of this paper was to analyse the casein haplotype distribution, with particular attention to the linkage phase between as1-casein (CSN1S1) and b-casein (CSN2). The two first loci of the casein cluster, which are only 12 kb apart and are convergently transcribed. Apulian goats from Garganica, Jonica, and Maltese breeds were considered. DNA typing showed that the CSN2*C allele is mainly associated to CSN1S1*A and CSN1S1*F allele. Most probably, the differentiation between CSN2*C and CSN2*A occurred before the numerous mutations affecting CSN1S1 locus

Milchproteinvarianten bei Thüringer Waldziegen

5nonenoneKüpper J.; Erhardt G.; Chessa S.; Rignanese D.; Caroli A.Küpper, J.; Erhardt, G.; Chessa, S.; Rignanese, Daniela; Caroli, Anna Mari

Bovine milk protein genetic polymorphisms and total milk protease activity

6nonenoneChessa S.; Bulgari O.; Rignanese D.; Ceriotti G.; Gigliotti G.; Caroli A.Chessa, S.; Bulgari, Omar; Rignanese, Daniela; Ceriotti, G.; Gigliotti, G.; Caroli, Anna Mari

Characterization and Genetic Study of the Ovine alpha ( S2 )-Casein (CSN1S2) Allele B

7nonenonePICARIELLO G; RIGNANESE D; CHESSA S; CERIOTTI G; TRANI A; A. CAROLI; DI LUCCIA APicariello, G; Rignanese, Daniela; Chessa, S; Ceriotti, G; Trani, A; Caroli, Anna Maria; DI LUCCIA, A