Polymorphism of BMPR1B, BMP15 and GDF9 fecundity genes in prolific Garole sheep

Abstract

Mutation studies in different prolific sheep breeds have shown that the transforming growth factor beta super family ligands viz. the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9/FecG), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15/FecX) and associated type I receptors, bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR1B/FecB), are major determinant of ovulation rate and consequent increase in litter size. The Garole sheep is a highly prolific sheep breed of India. Characterization of fecundity genes in these animals could substantially improvise the breeding programme in these animals as well as other sheep breeds of the region. The present study was therefore designed with the objective of polymorphism study of fecundity genes in these prolific microsheep. A total of 11 point mutations were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based method. A competitive technique called tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system-PCR was adapted to type a total of ten points of two ovine fecundity genes (GDF9 and BMP15). The FecB locus of the BMPR1B gene and G1 locus of GDF9 gene were found to be polymorphic. In FecB locus, two genotypes, wild type (FecB(+)) and mutant (FecBB), were detected with allele frequencies of 0.39 and 0.61, respectively. At G1 locus, two genotypes, mutant (A) and wild types (G) were detected with allele frequencies of 0.18 and 0.82, respectively. This study reports Garole sheep as the fourth sheep breed after Belclare/Cambridge, Lacaune and Small-tailed Han sheep, where coexisting polymorphism has been found in two different fecundity genes (BMPRIB and GDF9 genes).

Effects of polymorphisms in the bovine growth differentiation factor 9 gene on sperm quality in Holstein bulls

“…For abbreviations, see legend to Table 2. Many mutations have been identified in the exons and introns of sheep or goat GDF9, and found to be significantly associated with litter size or ovulation rate (Hanrahan et al, 2004;Nicol et al, 2009;Barzegari et al, 2010;Polley et al, 2010;Chu et al, 2011). However, studies examining mutations in bovine GDF9 are relatively rare.…”

Analysis of the 3´ End Regions of the Gdf9 and Bmpr1b Genes in Blackbelly Sheep From Yucatán, Mexico

“…The Lleyn breed is the source of the G8 mutation, which results in the high prolificacy of the Belclare and Cambridge breeds. The reported G1 mutation has been investigated, as it is linked to the prolificacy of the Asian breed Garole (Polley et al, 2010). Mutations in the GDF9 gene have not been identified in prolific sheep or goat breeds.…”

“…The FecB mutation in BM-PR1B consists of an A→G transition at nucleotide 746 in the open reading frame and is associated with the hyper-prolific phenotype of the Booroola sheep (Wilson et al, 2001;Souza et al, 2001). This mutation was subsequently reported in other sheep breeds around the world, including the Garole sheep (Polley et al, 2010), Japanese sheep (Davis et al, 2002), the Small Tailed Han sheep (Chu et al, 2007), Hu sheep (Wang et al, 2003) and others (Davis et al, 2006;Hua and Yang 2009). The GDF9 (Growth Differentiation Factor 9) gene maps to chromosome 5 and contains 2 exons (Bodensteiner et al, 1999).…”

Genetic Improvement of Litter Size in Four Goat Breeds in Egypt Using Polymorphism in Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15 Gene

“…This approach has been used previously to genotype prolific sheep and goat by several research groups (Souza et al, 2001;Davis et al, 2002;Kumar et al, 2006;Guan et al, 2007;Polley et al, 2009). …”