Danxia Chen

Polymorphism in a Microsatellite of the Acrp30 Gene and Its Association with Growth Traits in Goats

Acrp30 plays a critical role in the regulation of glucose and lipid homeostasis. In this study, polymorphism of the Acrp30 gene was detected by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods in 321 individuals from three goat breeds, and the association of Acrp30 gene polymorphism with growth traits in the three goat breeds was analyzed. A novel insert/deletion (GT)5 microsatellite sequence was detected in the 5′ flanking region of the gene. Three genotypes (AA, AB, and BB) were found in three breeds. There was moderate genetic diversity in the locus in the analyzed populations. Significant associations were observed between the genotypes of the locus and growth traits in the Boer goat population. The chest circumference of individuals with genotype BB was significantly greater than that of individuals with genotype AA.

Analysis of the polymorphisms in the caprine Gli3 gene and their associations with production traits in goats

Gli3 is a zinc finger transcription factor which plays a critical role in regulating animal development, metabolism and energy partitioning and thus has the potential to influence economical important traits in farm animals. In this study, we screened the complete exons of the caprine Gli3 gene using PCR-SSCP methods in 430 individuals from three goat breeds to identify sequence variants that might be associated with growth traits. Six novel mutations (GU363952:g.739C>G, 749A>T, 1636C>A, 1982delT, 1983T>C, 2856T>C) were identified. Significant associations were observed between the mutations GU363952:g.739C>G and g.749A>T with body height, chest circumference and canon circumference. Individuals with genotype G4-CC/AA and G4-CG/AT were significantly higher than individuals with genotype G4-GG/TT in body height, chest circumference and canon circumference. The results of this study suggested that the Gli3-gene-specific SNP could be a useful marker for growth traits in future marker-assisted selection programs in goat.