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Bos indicus introgression into (peri‐)alpine cattle breeds – evidence from the analysis of bovine whey protein variants
Author(s) -
Tetens J. L.,
Qanbari S.,
Drögemüller C.,
Pimentel E. C. G.,
Bennewitz J.,
Thaller G.,
Tetens J.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/age.12185
Subject(s) - biology , introgression , genetics , single nucleotide polymorphism , breed , gene , bovine genome , genetic variation , genome , genotype
Summary The major bovine whey proteins, α ‐lactalbumin ( α‐ LA ) and β ‐lactoglobulin ( β ‐ LG ), exhibit breed‐specific genetic variation. The aim of this study was to identify possible new protein variants and determine the distribution of variants across a variety of 18 taurine and indicine cattle breeds applying a DNA ‐based sequencing approach. To this end, the open reading frames of the respective genes ( LALBA and LGB ) were sequenced in 476 animals. Within the LALBA gene, a previously unknown synonymous and a previously undesignated non‐synonymous nucleotide exchange were identified. Furthermore, two known α ‐ LA variants (A and B) and four known β ‐ LG variants ( A , B , C and W ) were determined. The occurrence of typical indicine variants in some taurine cattle breeds, such as S uisse E ringer, G erman H interwälder and H ungarian G rey S teppe, further supports the hypothesis of ancient B os indicus introgression into (peri‐)alpine cattle breeds.