Abstract
The genetic polymorphism of the β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) gene was determined in 638 animals belonging to 15 native Indian sheep breeds reared in different agroecological regions for various production traits. Variants of β-LG were found using PCR–RFLP of genomic DNA. Rsa1 restriction enzyme digestion of a 120-bp PCR fragment of exon 2 of β-LG revealed two genetic variants, A (0.37) and B (0.63), and the three genotypes AA (0.175), AB (0.389), and BB (0.436). The differences in allelic frequency were not significant across the breeds, irrespective of their geographic origin and utility (χ2 test, P > 0.05). The pattern of occurrence of allelic variants revealed that the B allele was more frequent in the majority of the Indian breeds than in breeds reported from countries of Southwest Asia, Eastern and Central Europe, and the Mediterranean. A higher level of heterozygosity (0.422) was discerned, despite the declining status of several of the Indian breeds. These findings revealed that Indian sheep are predominantly of the β-LG B type.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acharya RM (1982) Sheep and goat breeds of India. FAO Animal Production and Health Paper 30. FAO of United Nations, Rome, Italy
Ali S, Clark AJ (1988) Characterization of the gene encoding ovine beta lactoglobulin: similarity to the genes for retinal binding protein and other secretory proteins. J Mol Biol 199(3):415–426
Amigo L, Recio I, Ramos M (2000) Genetic polymorphism of ovine milk proteins: its influence on technological properties of milk. Int Dairy J 10:135
Arora R, Bhatia S, Sodhi M, Sahana G, Mukesh M, Ahlawat SPS (2005) Garole: the prolific microsheep of India. Monograph 18. NBAGR, Karnal, India
Arora R, Bhatia S, Sehrawat A, Pandey AK, Sharma R, Mishra BP, Jain A, Prakash B (2008) Genetic polymorphism of type 1 intermediate filament wool keratin gene in native Indian sheep breeds. Biochem Genet 46:549–556
Barillet F, Arranz JJ, Carta A (2005) Mapping quantitative trait loci for milk production and genetic polymorphisms of milk proteins in dairy sheep. Genet Sel Evol 37(Suppl 1):109–123
Bhatia S, Arora R (2005) Biodiversity and conservation of Indian sheep genetic resources: an overview. Asian Aust J Animal Sci 18:1387–1402
Bhatia S, Arora R, Ahlawat SPS (2005) Kheri: pastoralists evolved sheep of Rajasthan. Monograph 17. NBAGR, Karnal, India
Bocharev VV (1998) The molecular analysis of β-lactoglobulin locus in the different sheep breeds. Dubrovicy. Doctoral thesis (in Russian)
Cengiz E, Yasemin O, Balcioglu MS (2006) Genetic polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin gene in native Turkish sheep breeds. Biochem Genet 44:376–381
Cubric-Curic V, Feligini M, Lukac-Havranek J, Curik I, Enne G (2002) Genetic polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin in native sheep from the island of Pag. Food Technol Biotechnol 40(1):75–78
Dario C, Carnicella D, Bufano G (2005) Effect of β-lactoglobulin genotypes on ovine milk composition in Altamurana breed. Archivos de Zootecnia 54:105–108
Dario C, Carnicella D, Dario M, Bufano G (2008) Genetic polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin gene and effect on milk composition in Leccese sheep. Small Ruminant Res 74:270–273
Elyasi Gh, Shodja Dj, Nassiry MR, Tahmasebi A, Pirahary O (2005) Study of ovine beta-lactoglobulin gene polymorphism using PCR-RFLP. J Sci Technol Agric Nat Resour 9(2)
Erhardt G (1989) Evidence for a third allele at the β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) locus of sheepmilk and its occurrence in different breeds. Animal Genet 20:197–204
Feligini M, Parma P, Aleandri R, Greppi GF, Enne G (1998) PCR-RFLP test for direct determination of β-lactoglobulin genotype in sheep. Animal Genet 29:460–477
Garzon AI, Martinez J (1992) β-LG in Manchega sheep breed: relationships with milk technological indexes in handcraft manufacture of Manchego cheese. Animal Genet 23(Suppl 1):106
Gokhale SB (2003) Network project on animal genetic resources: final report of network project on survey, evaluation and characterisation of deccani sheep breed. Implemented by NBAGR, Karnal, and BAIF Development Research Foundation, Central Research Station, Pune, India (http://www.baif.org.in/aspx_pages/project_learnings/dairy/Executive%20Summary%20of%20Deccani%Sheep.pdf)
Haenlein GFW (2006) The nutritional value of sheep milk. Smallstock in Development (http://www.smallstock.info/issues/sheepmilk.htm)
Jain A, Singh G, Arora R, Bhatia S (2006) Sheep genetic resources of India: Sonadi. Monograph 40. NBAGR, Karnal, India
Jurate K, Gediminas V, Jolanta M, Ilma T (2005) Genetic polymorphism of β-lactoglobulin in Lithuanian Blackface and Lithuanian Native Coarsewooled sheep. Vet Zootec 29(51)
Kolde HJ, Braunitzer G (1983) The primary structure of ovine beta-lactoglobulin, 2: discussion and genetic aspects. Milchwissenschaft 38:70
Mele M, Conte G, Serra A, Buccioni A, Secchiari P (2007) Relationship between beta-lactoglobulin polymorphism and milk fatty acid composition in milk of Massese dairy ewes. Small Ruminant Res 73:37–44
Mercier JC, Vilotte JL (1993) Structure and function of milk protein genes. J Dairy Sci 76:3079–3098
Sambrook J, Fritsch EF, Maniatis T (1989) Molecular cloning: a laboratory manual. Cold Spring Harbor Press, New York
Yeh FC, Boyle T, Rongcai Y, Ye Z, Xian JM (1999) Popgene version 1.32: Microsoft Windows-Based Freeware for Population Genetic Analysis. University of Alberta, Edmonton
Acknowledgments
This work was financially supported by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR, New Delhi). We are grateful to the director of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources for providing laboratory facilities. The authors also acknowledge Mr. Rakesh Kumar for his technical support.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Arora, R., Bhatia, S., Mishra, B.P. et al. Genetic Polymorphism of the β-Lactoglobulin Gene in Native Sheep from India. Biochem Genet 48, 304–311 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-009-9323-6
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10528-009-9323-6