A Novel SNP Polymorphism in the Ovine Leptin Gene Related to Back Fat Depth

Abstract Text: The objective was to identify potential polymorphisms in exon 3 coding sequence of the oLEP gene in two- and three-breed crossbred lambs, involving Blackbelly, Pelibuey, Dorper and Charollais sheep, and to evaluate potential transcriptional and phenotypic associations. Polymerase chain reaction–single-strand conformational polymorphism (PCR–SSCP) analyses were performed. Five unique SSCP patterns defined by six different bands were observed, from which, amplicons of animals with two of the identified patterns were re-amplified and sequenced. A non previously reported, non synonymous C→G transversion SNP in exon 3 of the oLEP gene was identified at position 355, which resulted in a predicted amino acid change from aspartic acid to glutamic acid at the 118 codon position. Lambs with the CG genotype had 1.02 ± 0.4 mm  more (P < 0.05) back fat depth at slaughter than those with the CC genotype.

Keywords:

Sheep

LEP gene

Fat deposition