Variation in the KRTAP6-3 gene and its association with wool characteristics in Pakistani sheep breeds and breed-crosses

This study investigated variation in the keratin-associated proteins gene,KRTAP6-3, in 5 Pakistani sheep breeds/crosses using polymerase chain reaction-single strand confirmation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. Different banding patterns were revealed, including previously described patterns and a novel pattern (named variantH). The amplified PCR product of the novel banding pattern was directly sequenced, and a synonymous nucleotide variation c.51T>C was revealed. Among the wool traits assessed, a strong correlation (r = 0.929;P <  0.001) was observed between fibre diameter standard deviation (FDSD) and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter (CVFD), between FDSD and medullation (r = 0.720;P <  0.001), between FDSD and medullation standard deviation (MeSD) (r = 0.734;P <  0.001), between MeSD and coefficient of variance of medullation (CVMed), (r = 0.903,P <  0.001), and between CVFD and medullation (r = 0.660), CVFD and MeSD (r = 0.786;P <  0.001), CVFD and CVMed (r = 0.701; P <  0.001) and medullation and MeSD (r = 0.771; P <  0.001). VariantB was found to be associated (P = 0.018) with CVFD; the presence of B being associated with a higher CVFD, than in its absence (41.08 ± 3.98 versus 36.34 ± 3.08). VariantC was associated with CVMed (P = 0.040), where sheep withC had a lower CVMed than sheep where it was absent. Variation inKRTAP6-3 was found to affect fibre diamete...
Source: Tropical Animal Health and Production - Category: Veterinary Research Source Type: research