-The single and combined effects of polymorphism in the 5'-noncoding region of the bovine growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene was examined on the traits related to feed intake and meat production in beef cattle. Four different single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were analysed. Seventy-one young bulls belonging to four beef breeds (Charolais, Limousin, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford) and one dual purpose breed (Simmental) were included in the study. The traits analysed were daily weight gain, feed intake and conversion, and carcass parameters. The results showed that genetic variants at the 5'-noncoding region of the bovine GHR gene had a marked effect on beef production traits. The (-) allele at the polymorphic AluI site appeared favourable for weight of carcass and percentage of valuable cuts. The animals with the +/+ genotype for the RFLP-AccI polymorphism seemed better for the percent of lean in valuable cuts, while those with the +/+ genotype at the polymorphic Fnu4HI site appeared superior for daily gain and feed conversion during the feed test period. A higher percent of lean in valuable cuts was shown for the bulls of the -/-genotypes at the NsiI site. In addition, statistically significant associations were shown between combined GHR genotypes and feed consumption, carcass weight and dimensions.growth hormone receptor / gene polymorphism / cattle / meat production traits Résumé -Polymorphisme dans la région 5' non codante du gène du récepteur de l'hormone de croissance associé aux caractères de production de viande chez les bovins. L'effet du polymorphisme dans la région 5' non codante du gène du récepteur de l'hormone de croissance bovine (GHR) sur les caractères associés à la consommation de fourrage et à la production de viande chez les bovins de boucherie a été examiné. Quatre polymorphismes nucléotidiques simples (SNP ; single nucleotide polymorphisms) différents ont été analysés. Soixante et onze jeunes taureaux appartenant à 4 races bovines à viande (Charolaise, Limousine, Aberdeen Angus, Hereford) et une race bovine mixte (Simmental) ont été inclus dans l'étude. Les caractéristiques suivantes ont été analysées: gain moyen quotidien, consommation de fourrage, indice de consommation et qualité de la carcasse. Les résultats montrent que les variants génétiques pour la région 5' non codante du gène

The major assumption of this study is that polymorphism of a gene could be used to investigate its allele-specific expression as well as its methylation and imprinting status. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the polymorphism of the coding region of the bovine IGF2 gene and to determine the sequence of its gene exon 6 in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle. A single nucleotide "C" deletion/insertion polymorphism was found in both cattle subspecies and a G/T transversion (RFLP-MboII) in the Bos indicus IGF2 gene. A 407-bp fragment of bovine IGF2 exon 6 was sequenced and the sequences (including variable nucleotides) were deposited in the GenBank database. A comparative analysis was performed for this fragment from different species; 99.5% identity was found between Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle.

Genes coding for growth hormone (GH) and GH receptor (GHR) are candidates for quantitative trait markers in farm animals. This work describes a search for nucleotide sequence polymorphisms within the 5'-region of the bovine GHR gene. Two new single nucleotide polymorphisms were found: restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) at a Fnu4HI/TseI site (C/T transition at position -1104), and at a Sau96I site (C/T transition at position -262). The Fnu4HI/TseI polymorphic site is located within the 1.2-kbp LINE-1 retrotransposon upstream of the P1 promoter, while the Sau96I RFLP locates in the P1 promoter for exon 1A. The appearance of the Sau96I RFLP was studied in representatives of two bovine species, Bos taurus and Bos indicus. An absolute correlation was observed between Sau96I genotype and the insertion/deletion of LINE-1.

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Molecular evolution of coding and non-coding sequences of the growth hormone receptor (GHR) gene in the family Bovidae. Folia biol. (Kraków) 54: 31-36. The GHR gene exon 1A and exon 4 with fragments of its flanking introns were sequenced in twelve Bovidae species and the obtained sequences were aligned and analysed by the ClustalW method. In coding exon 4 only three interspecies differences were found, one of which had an effect on the amino-acid sequence-leucine 152 proline. The average mutation frequency in non-coding exon 1A was 10.5 per 100 bp, and was 4.6-fold higher than that in coding exon 4 (2.3 per 100 bp). The mutation frequency in intron sequences was similar to that in non-coding exon 1A (8.9 vs 10.5/100 bp). For non-coding exon 1A, the mutation levels were lower within than between the subfamilies Bovinae and Caprinae. Exon 4 was 100% identical within the genera Ovis, Capra, Bison, and Bos and 97.7% identical for Ovis moschatus, Ammotragus lervia and Bovinae species. The identity level of non-coding exon 1A of the GHR gene was 93.8% between species belonging to Bovinae and Caprinae. The average mutation rate was 0.2222/100 bp/MY and 0.0513/100 bp/MY for the Bovidae GHR gene exons 1A and 4, respectively. Thus, the GHR gene is well conserved in the Bovidae family. Also, in this study some novel intraspecies polymorphisms were found for cattle and sheep.