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Regarding mutations of PROP1 (Prophet of POU1F1) gene significantly associating with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) in human patients and animals, PROP1 gene is a novel important candidate gene for detecting genetic variation and growth, reproduction, metabolism traits selection and breeding. The aim of this study was to detect PROP1 gene mutation of the exon 1-3 and its association with wool traits in 345 Chinese Merino sheep. In this study, on the basis of PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods, ten novel SNPs within the sheep PROP1 gene, namely, AY533708: g.45A>G resulting in Glu15Glu, g.1198A>G, g.1341G>C resulting in Arg63Ser, g.1389G>A resulting in Ala79Ala, g.1402C>T resulting in Leu84Leu, g.1424A>G resulting in Asn91Ser, g.1522C>T, g.1556A>T, g.1574T>C, g.2430C>G were reported. In addition, association analysis showed that three genotypes of P4 fragment were significantly associated with fiber diameter in the analyzed population (P=0.044). These results strongly suggested that polymorphisms of the PROP1 gene could be a useful molecular marker for sheep breeding and genetics through marker-assisted selection (MAS).

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In order to study the potential gene function of ovine EST-SSR markers, nine original EST of Ovine Skin Derived polymorphic EST-SSR loci, which were developed in an early study by our lab, were ontology annotated and Electro localized. The results revealed that the original ESTs of the six loci had high homology with known genes and three of them probably played an important role in wool traits. Compared with its cDNA library, 8 loci were located on chromosomes of cattle. The homology of chromosomes between cattle and sheep was estimated based on the similarity coefficients calculated by positioning markers. Additionally, NJ clustering tree was establishedto serve for electro localization of ovine EST-SSR markers. Finally, 8 EST-SSR markers were successfully positioned on ovine chromosomes. The results from this study not only provide references for further studies on genetic mapping, in silico cloning of key genes for wool traits, but also are helpful to the researchs of chromosome evolution in animal.