ACTA VETERINARIA ET ZOOTECHNICA SINICA ›› 2011, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (9): 1227-1232.doi:

• 遗传繁育 • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Effects of Single and Combined Genotypes of MC4R and PROP1 Genes on Growth Traits in Chinese Merino Sheep

ZENG Xian-cun1, CHEN Han-ying2, JIA Bin1*, ZHAO Zong-sheng1*, HUI Wenqiao1, ZHANG Wen-xiang1, WU Hong-bin1, WANG Zun-bao1

  

  1. 1. College of Animal Science and Technology, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China; 2. College of Pharmacy, Shihezi University, Shihezi 832003, China
  • Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:2011-09-23 Published:2011-09-23
  • Contact: JIA Bin,ZHAO Zong-sheng

Abstract: This study aimed to study the relationship between MC4R and PROP1 genes and sheep growth traits, and search the markers correlated with sheep growth traits. PCRSSCP method was applied in this study to detect the polymorphisms of MC4R and PROP1 genes in Chinese Merino and Germany Merino sheep populations, and analyze the association of polymorphisms and combined genotypes with growth traits of Chinese Merino sheep. The results showed that one mutation (G894C) at MC4R3 site, three mutations (A1223G, G1229A and T1307G) in 3′untranslated region at MC4R4 site of MC4R gene, and a transition of A2660G caused an amino acid change (A2660G→Thr181Ala) in exon 3 of PROP1 gene were identified. Correlation analysis showed that, in Chinese Merino sheep population, the effects of MC4R4 genotypes on body length and hip width were significant (P<0.05), the effective genotype was BB; and the effects of PROP1 genotypes on rump width and chest girth were significant (P<0.05), and the effective genotype was BB. The optical combined genotype of PROP1MC4R4 was BBBB, which is more effective on body length than other combined genotypes (P<0.05). These results indicate that the single nucleotide polymorphisms and combined genotypes of MC4R and PROP1 genes have effect on the growth traits of Chinese Merino sheep, it could be a candidate gene for sheep growth traits and directed to the sheep breeding.