Polymorphism in Melatonin Receptor 1A (MTRN1A) Gene in Chios, White Karaman and Awassi Sheep Breeds (1)

Summary The aim of this study was to investigate polymorphism of the melatonin receptor 1A gene (MTNR1A) in Chios, White Karaman and Awassi sheep breed. A large fragment of the exon II of the MTNR1A gene was amplified and uniform fragment of 824 bp was obtained in 138 ewes (48 Chios, 40 White Karaman and 50 Awassi) of three breeds. The PCR products was digested with restriction endonuclease MnlI and RsaI , and genetic polymorphism was detected by PCR-RFLP. Biallelic polymorphism was found with restriction endonuclease MnlI and two genotypes were detected Mm (303bp, 236bp/67bp) and MM (236bp/67bp, 236bp/67bp). Allelic frequency for Chios, White Karaman and Awassi breeds was 0.90, 0.80 and 0.84 respectively for M allele; 0.10, 0.20 and 0.16 respectively for m allele, while genotypic frequency was 0.80, 0.60 and 0.68 for MM and 0.20, 0.40 and 0.32 for Mm respectively. No polymorphism at the RsaI cleavage sites was detected in three sheep breeds.

[1]  G. M. Vacca,et al.  Polymorphism of the melatonin receptor MT1 gene and its relationship with seasonal reproductive activity in the Sarda sheep breed. , 2009, Animal reproduction science.

[2]  M. Thonney,et al.  Association between melatonin receptor 1A gene polymorphism and reproductive performance in Dorset ewes. , 2009, Journal of animal science.

[3]  D. Pomp,et al.  Mapping of the melatonin receptor la (MTNR1A) gene in pigs, sheep, and cattle , 1997, Mammalian Genome.

[4]  M. Chu,et al.  Association between Melatonin Receptor 1A Gene and Expression of Reproductive Seasonality in Sheep , 2006 .

[5]  D. Hazlerigg,et al.  Photorefractoriness in mammals: dissociating a seasonal timer from the circadian-based photoperiod response. , 2005, Endocrinology.

[6]  A. Parmeggiani,et al.  Blood melatonin levels relating to the reproductive activity of Sarda does , 2005 .

[7]  M. Migaud,et al.  Relationship between MT1 melatonin receptor gene polymorphism and seasonal physiological responses in Ile-de-France ewes. , 2005, Reproduction, nutrition, development.

[8]  N. Cockett,et al.  Opportunities for detection and use of QTL influencing seasonal reproduction in sheep: a review , 2005, Genetics Selection Evolution.

[9]  L. Coolen,et al.  The Premammillary Hypothalamic Area of the Ewe: Anatomical Characterization of a Melatonin Target Area Mediating Seasonal Reproduction1 , 2004, Biology of reproduction.

[10]  N. Cockett,et al.  Evaluation of melatonin receptor 1a as a candidate gene influencing reproduction in an autumn-lambing sheep flock. , 2003, Journal of animal science.

[11]  M. Chu,et al.  Association between PCR-RFLP of Melatonin Receptor 1a Gene and High Prolificacy in Small Tail Han Sheep , 2003 .

[12]  D. Weaver,et al.  Mammalian melatonin receptors: molecular biology and signal transduction , 2002, Cell and Tissue Research.

[13]  B. Goldman.  Mammalian Photoperiodic System: Formal Properties and Neuroendocrine Mechanisms of Photoperiodic Time Measurement , 2001, Journal of biological rhythms.

[14]  É. Hanocq,et al.  Association Between Expression of Reproductive Seasonality and Alleles of the Gene for Mel1a Receptor in the Ewe1 , 2000, Biology of reproduction.

[15]  A. Strosberg,et al.  Cloning and functional analysis of a polymorphic variant of the ovine Mel 1a melatonin receptor. , 1997, Biochimica et biophysica acta.

[16]  S. Reppert,et al.  Cloning and characterization of a mammalian melatonin receptor that mediates reproductive and circadian responses , 1994, Neuron.