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Objective To investigate the 23 bp and 12 bp insertion/deletion (indel) mutations within the bovine prion protein (PRNP) gene in Chinese dairy cows, and to detect the associations of two indel mutations with BSE susceptibility and milk performance. Methods Based on bovine PRNP gene sequence, two pairs of primers for testing the 23 bp and 12 bp indel mutations were designed. The PCR amplification and agarose electrophoresis were carried out to distinguish the different genotypes within the mutations. Moreover, based on previous data from other cattle breeds and present genotypic and allelic frequencies of two indels mutations in this study, the corrections between the two indel mutations and BSE susceptibility were tested, as well as the relationships between the mutations and milk performance traits were analyzed in this study based on the statistical analyses. Results In the analyzed Chinese Holstein population, the frequencies of two “del” alleles in 23 bp and 12 bp indel muations were more frequent. The frequency of haplotype of 23del-12del was higher than those of 23del- 12ins and 23ins-12del. From the estimated r2 and D’ values, two indel polymorphisms were linked strongly in the Holstein population (D’ = 57.5%, r2 = 0.257). Compared with the BSE-affected cattle populations from the reported data, the significant differences of genotypic and allelic frequencies were found among present Holstein and some BSE-affected populations (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Similarly, there were significant frequency distribution differences of genotypes and alleles among Chinese Holstein and several previous reported healthy dairy cattle (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Moreover, association of genotype and combined genotypes of two indel polymorphisms with milk performance and resistant mastitis traits were analyzed in Holstein population, but no significant differences were found (P > 0.05). Conclusions These observations revealed that the influence of two indel mutations within the bovine PRNP gene on BSE depended on the breed and they did not affect the milk production traits, which layed the foundation for future selection of resistant animals, and for improving health conditions for dairy breeding against BSE in China.

Sine oculis homeobox homolog 3 (Six3) gene is responsible for normal mammalian pituitary development, and its genetic variations or deficiency will cause hypopituitarism, suggesting that this gene is a potential candidate gene for studying association with growth traits in animals. Herein, genetic variants within bovine Six3 gene was screened in 1031 individuals from four Chinese indigenous cattle breeds. Two novel polymorphisms (NC_007309:g.2515G>A and NC_007309:g.2607T>C) locating at positions nt1707 and nt1799 of intron 1 in bovine Six3 gene, were found, and could be genotyped by TaqI ACRS PCR-RFLP and Alw26I PCR-RFLP, respectively. The frequencies of allele “A” of TaqI locus varied from 0.004 to 0.309, as well as the frequencies of allele “C” of Alw26I locus waved from 0.025 to 0.340. Association analysis revealed no significant association of TaqI locus with growth traits in Nanyang breed. However, significant relationships between Alw26I locus and body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) in Nanyang breed was found (p

As a transcriptional regulatory gene of the SIX family, SIX6 (also known as OPTX2, SIX9), probably affects pituitary development and secretion of hormones, suggesting that this gene is a potential candidate gene for studying association with growth trait in animals. Therefore, this study is first of all focused on detecting sequence variations in a bovine SIX6 gene and on its effects on growth traits in 1087 cattle from five Chinese cattle breeds using DNA sequencing and HhaI-ACRS-PCR methods. Herein, a novel mutation (NC_007308: g 2015T > C) in the TGA stop-codon of a bovine SIX6 gene was found, which leads to an ORF shift and extension of the encoded protein for four amino acids (Arg223-Gln224-Arg225-Val226). The frequency of allele “C” varied from 0.255 (Chinese Holsteins) to 0.614 (Hasake). They all were in the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except Jiaxian Red and Hasake cattle. Using amino acid sequence alignment and online prediction software, a new helix in the C-terminal domain of the mutated bovine SIX6 protein was revealed, which possibly affects pituitary development and hormone secretion. So, relationship analysis between this polymorphism and growth traits in the Nanyang breed was carried out based on a proper linear model. Although no statistically significant associations were observed (P > 0.05), the presented work preliminarily demonstrated a novel mutation in the TGA stop-codon which extends the spectrum of genetic variations of the bovine SIX6 gene and might be of interest in terms of its association with other biophysical and biochemical indexes.

The Kruppel-like factor KLF7 gene was studied as a candidate for genetic markers of growth traits. We investigated the growth traits at different ages of 1002 Chinese cattles belonging to four breeds and applied artificially created restriction site (ACRS)-PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing methods to reveal three SNPs: NC_007300 :g.41401C>T (p.F54F), 42025T>C and 42075A>G. The statistical results indicated there was a strong linkage not only between C41401T and T42025C in Jiaxian, but also between T42025C and A42075G in Qinchuan, Nanyang and Chinese Holstein respectively ( r 2 > 0.33). Significant statistical differences in genotypic frequencies at the three loci displayed that the polymorphisms were remarkably correlated with cattle breeds by χ 2 test ( P 2 T 2 , C 2 C 2 (T42025C), A 3 A 3 (A42075G), haplotype C 1 C 1 C 2 C 2 A 3 A 3 and C 1 T 1 T 2 C 2 A 3 G 3 showed better growth traits ( P KLF7 gene might play important roles affecting growth traits in cattle.

Adipocyte determination and differentiation-dependent factor 1/sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (ADD1/SREBP1c) is a major determinant of tissue differential lipogenic capacity in mammalian and avian species. The objectives of the present study were to focus on insertion-deletion polymorphism (indel) in the bovine ADD1/SREBP1c gene, and analyzing its effect on growth traits in a sample of 1035 cattle belonging to four Chinese cattle breeds. PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and agarose electrophoresis methods were used. The 778 bp PCR products of ADD1/SREBP1c gene exhibited three genotypes and two alleles were revealed: W and D. Frequencies of the W allele varied from 0.8651 to 1.000. The associations of the 84 bp indel mutation of ADD1/SREBP1c gene with growth traits of 265 Nanyang cows were analyzed. The animals with genotype WD had significantly higher birth weight, body weight, average daily gain than those with genotype WW at birth, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month old (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). These results suggest that the indel mutation of bovine ADD1/SREBP1c gene may influence the growth traits in cattle.

It is known that the SREBP1c gene is an important gene responsible for adipogenesis and regulation of the expression of genes controlling fatty acid biosynthesis. Its expression levels increase in parallel with obesity. Therefore, the present study focused on screening the genetic variation within bovine SREBP1c gene and analyzing its effect on growth traits in 1035 individuals belonging to four Chinese cattle breeds (QC, NY, JX, CH) using PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing, and forced PCR-RFLP methods. The results revealed two novel mutations: NC_007317: g. 10781 C > A (457aa), 10914 G > A (502aa). Association analysis with growth traits in the Nangyang breed indicated that: The SNPs in the bovine SREBP1c gene had significant effects on body weight and average daily gain at birth, 6 and 12 months old (P