Identification of nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken annexins A2 gene associatied with egg laying traits.

Annexin A2 (ANXA2) is a member of the A subfamily of a multifunctional calcium dependent membrane phospholipid binding protein family. The mRNA expression of ANXA2 is consistent with ovary function and egg laying in chickens. In this study, six nucleotide polymorphisms in the key promoter region of chicken ANXA2 gene (−2861 bp to −1394 bp), i.e.,: g.−2337 indel (GT), g.−2255 C > T, g. −2248 A > G, g.−2188 A > G, g.−2169 G > A, g.−2160 A > C, were identified. Their distributions in populations of Xinyang Brown, Recessive White Rock, Wenchang and Wenshang Barred chickens were analyzed. In the Recessive White Rock chicken population, CAA, CAG and TGG were three major haplotypes. Association analysis indicated that the individuals with diplotype TGG/TGG laid more eggs at 32 weeks, and the individual with diplotype CAG/TGG laid at the earlier age. Luciferase activity assay showed that mutation from C to T at −2255 increased trascriptional activity of chicken ANXA2, which is consistent with its effect on egg laying traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]