Identification of Genetic Polymorphisms of PI, PIII, and Exon 53 in the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase-α (ACACα) Gene and Their Association with Milk Composition Traits of Najdi Sheep

Abdulkareem M Matar; Abdulrahman S Alharthi; Moez Ayadi; Maged A Al-Garadi; Riyadh S Aljummah

doi:10.3390/ani13081317

Identification of Genetic Polymorphisms of PI, PIII, and Exon 53 in the Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase-α (ACACα) Gene and Their Association with Milk Composition Traits of Najdi Sheep

Animals (Basel). 2023 Apr 12;13(8):1317. doi: 10.3390/ani13081317.

Authors

Abdulkareem M Matar¹, Abdulrahman S Alharthi¹, Moez Ayadi¹, Maged A Al-Garadi¹, Riyadh S Aljummah¹

Affiliation

¹ Department of Animal Production, College of Food and Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2460, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Recently, increasing attention has been paid to sheep milk products, which are high in saturated fatty acids (SFA), and the extent of their impact on human health. This study aimed to identify SNPs for PI, PIII, and Exon 53 in the ACACα gene and their association with the MC and FA profiles in Najdi sheep milk. A total of 76 multiparous Najdi ewes were used, and they were maintained using the same feeding system. Milk and blood samples were collected during the first lactation. A genetic polymorphism analysis identified 20 SNPs: 4 SNPs on PI, 6 SNPs on PIII, and 10 SNPs on Exon 53. In PI, the SNP g.4412G > A was associated (p < 0.05) with palmitic acid (C16:0), palmitoleic acid (16:1 n-7) and linoleic acid (LA), while SNP g.4485C > G was associated with CLA and vaccenic acid (VA) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, in PIII, two SNPs (g.1168A > G and g.1331G > T) were associated with milk protein (p < 0.05), while the SNP g.6860G > C in Exon 53 was associated with milk fat (p < 0.05). SNPs in the Najdi breed have been shown to be strongly related to milk fat and EFA contents. This could support a genetic selection program and the control of milk traits in the Najdi breed of high-quality dairy sheep.

Keywords: Najdi breed; SNP; acetyl-CoA carboxylase-α gene; fatty acid profile; milk composition.

Grants and funding

project no. (IFKSURG-2-651)./This research was funded by the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Educa-tion in Saudi Arabia through the project no. (IFKSURG-2-651).