Single strand confirmation polymorphism (SSCP) detection in exon I of the <FONT FACE=Symbol>a</font>-lactalbumin gene of Indian Jamunapari milk goats (Capra hircus)

Abstract

The genetic diversity of Jamunapari goats (Capra hircus) was investigated using an optimized non-radioactive polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) method to detect α-lactalbumin polymorphism in a sample of 50 goats. Our data show that PCR-SSCP is an appropriate tool for evaluating genetic variability in Jamunapari goats. Polymorphism was detected in the sample, indicating that Jamunapari goats have high genetic variability at loci, exon I of the α-lactalbumin gene. This result opens interesting prospects for future selection programs and conservation strategies. These α-lactalbumin variants can be sequenced and screened in the population to develop single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers for association studies and marker assisted selection. Key words: alpha-lactalbumin, genetic variability, goat, single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). India has 20 well-defined breeds of goats (Capra hircus), representing a wide spectrum of genetic variability. Within each Indian goat breed the variation in phenotypes and production levels is primarily because of extensive management under low input, with little selection being practiced by the farmers (Ahlawat and Gupta, 2004). The genetic variability of indigenous breeds is important for conserving precious and irreplaceable genetic resources which may be applied to new productive demands.The Jamunapari, Jamnapari or Etawah goat (Capra hircus) is named after an area beyond the river Jamuna where the breed was developed and is a dual purpose milk-and-meat goat breed which is mainly found in the undulated land of Chakarnagar between the ravines of the Jamuna (Yamuna) and Chambal rivers in the Etawah district of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh (Acharya, 1982). The predominantly white-haired Jamunapari goat is probably the tallest and most handsome of Indian goat breeds (Singh, 1966), the other distinguishing feature of the breed being a thick growth of long hair on the hindquarters. They have a large body, long and wide pendulous ears, a pronounced Roman nose and parrot mouth, and short and flat horns. The breed is a prolific and non-seasonal breeder (Devendra, 1985) and females possess large udders with big teats and are well known for milk production because they produce the highest amounts of milk of all Indian goat breeds, milk yield ranging from 1.13 to 3.63 kg d -1 or about 200 kg per lactation (Acharya, 1982, Rout et al., 2004 and growth (Singh, 1966). Variation in milk yield has been reported to be associated with management differences as well as variability in genetic makeup of the goats (Azevedo et al., 1994). The association of genetic polymorphism with milk production and composition (Ng-Kwai-Hang, 1997) has stimulated interest in using genetic polymorphism of milk protein genes in molecular marker assisted selection (MAS) to improve milk productivity in farm animals.The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability in exon-I of the α-lactalbumin milk gene using a non-radioactive PCR single-st...

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