Association between MUC1 gene polymorphism and expected progeny differences in Nelore cattle (Bos primigenius indicus)

Abstract

MUC1 is a heavily glycosylated mammalian transmembrane protein expressed by mucosal secretory tissues for both protection against microbial infection and lubrication. An important characteristic of MUC1 is its variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) containing several sites for O-glycosylation. VNTR length has been associated with many human diseases and with certain economically important traits in domestic ruminants. The aim of the present study was to correlate the length of MUC1 gene VNTR with expected progeny differences (EPDs) obtained for growth, fertility and carcass traits. Five alleles were identified, with alleles containing short VNTRs being more frequent than those with long, thereby demonstrating that Brazilian Nelore cattle are characterized by high frequencies in short MUC1 VNTRs. Statistical analyses revealed there to be no significant association between VNTR length and EPDs for weight at 120 days (W120 ), scrotal circumference at 365 (SC 365 ) and 450 (SC 450 ) days, age at first calving (AFC), and rib eye area (REA).

MUC1 gene polymorphism in three Nelore lines selected for growth and its association with growth and carcass traits

“…As reported in previous studies, Nelore is characterized by 5 alleles of the MUC1 gene VNTR [18,20,21]. The allele 1 was the predominant allele in the Nelore breed in both the sample as a whole and in each selection line, especially in the NeS and NeT lines.…”

“…Alleles 4 and 5 have so far been considered the rarest alleles in the Nelore breed [18,20,21]. This is the first study reporting significant associations between the MUC1 gene polymorphism and economic traits in beef cattle.…”

“…This is the first study reporting significant associations between the MUC1 gene polymorphism and economic traits in beef cattle. In previous studies using samples from a commercial Nelore herd [20,21], this polymorphism was characterized in this breed and its effects on early puberty and expected progeny differences for growth, carcass and fertility traits were investigated. No evidence of an association was found.…”

“…Although the frequency of the allele 3 in the line NeC is low its effect on W 550 may explain the lower frequencies of the allele 3 in the lines NeS and NeT, which the females are selected considering higher means for W 550 , but it is also necessary to consider the low frequency of this allele in other studies with Nelore cattle and the probability of its low frequency be a characteristic of the herd that initiated this three selection lines in the EEZS at 1978 [18,20,21].…”

“…In Holstein cattle, associations of the polymorphism with milk production and composition traits, as well as with traits related to fertility and disease resistance, have been reported [17]. The polymorphism was also characterized in Zebu beef cattle (Bos primigenius indicus) and its effect on growth, fertility and carcass traits was investigated, but no evidence of an association was found [18][19][20][21].…”