Heat shock protein and gene regulation in goats during heat stress

Abstract

Heat shock proteins (HSPs), also known as molecular chaperons are prominent stress markers. Heat shock proteins consist of highly conserved protein expressed at the time of stress, and play an important role in adaptation to the environmental stress. Although, the expression pattern of HSP70 gene is species and breed specific, variations in adaptation and thermal tolerance is due to the nature of environment and adaptive capacity of a species. The present study was conducted to evaluate the adaptive capability of different goat (Capra hircus) breeds, i.e. Jamunapari, Barbari, Jakhrana and Sirohi under peak dry summer. The targeted gene HSP70 (HSPA6) was evaluated for this purpose using specific primers. The expression of HSP70 gene and protein was estimated by RT PCR and ELISA kits respectively. The expression of HSP70 gene was found lowest in sirohi breeds implying that this breed was more adapted followed by Jakhrana, Barbari and Jamunapari during peak summer season. Whereas, the level of HSP70 protein in blood was significantly higher in Jamunapari, followed by Barbari, Jakhrana and lowest in Sirohi. These results indicated that, during adverse climatic stress the quantum of expression (HSP70 gene and protein) was more in Jamunapari. It is concluded that Sirohi breed is better adapted to heat stress than Jamunapari, Jakhrana and Barbari and HSP70 may be a potential molecular biomarker in the future for selection of climate resilient animals.