AGPAT6 polymorphism and its association with milk traits of dairy goats

Genet Mol Res. 2011 Nov 4;10(4):2747-56. doi: 10.4238/2011.November.4.8.

Abstract

As one of the eight members in the 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate-O-acyltransferase (AGPATs) family, AGPAT6 is a crucial enzyme for the biosynthesis of glycerolipids and triacylglycerol in eukaryotes, as well as catalyzing the conversion from lysophosphatidic acid to phosphatidic acid. AGPAT6 can be considered as a candidate gene for regulating milk composition. DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP methods were applied to detect genetic variation in the AGPAT6 gene in 549 Chinese dairy goats. Four polymorphisms (NC_007328.3:g.152G>C, 8124G>A, 9263C>G, 16436G>A) were detected in 5'UTR, intron 2, exon 4, and 3'UTR, respectively. For the KpnΙ locus, the frequencies of the AGPAT6-G allele were 0.955 and 0.936 for SN (Xinong Sannen) and GZ (Guanzhong) dairy goat breeds, respectively. In the PCR-RFLP analysis for KpnΙ, EcoRII, NcoΙ, and BglΙ, the frequencies of the G allele of AGPAT6 were 0.955 and 0.936, 0.694 and 0.819, 0.206 and 0.254, 0.729 and 0.623 for SN and GZ dairy goat breeds, respectively. The 9263C>G mutation revealed a synonymous genetic code of Thr (threonine). Associations between the four mutations and milk traits were analyzed in two dairy goat breeds. At the 9263C>G locus, genotype GG and CG individuals showed significantly better milk performance than genotype CC individuals (P < 0.05). Therefore, the G allele is suggested to be a molecular marker for milk production in dairy goats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • 5' Untranslated Regions / genetics
  • Alleles*
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Exons / genetics
  • Genetic Loci*
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genotype
  • Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / genetics*
  • Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / metabolism
  • Goats / genetics*
  • Goats / metabolism
  • Introns / genetics
  • Milk*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length*

Substances

  • 3' Untranslated Regions
  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Genetic Markers
  • Glycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase