Premium
Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) gene polymorphisms in Italian cattle breeds
Author(s) -
Milanesi E.,
Nicoloso L.,
Crepaldi P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of animal breeding and genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.689
H-Index - 51
eISSN - 1439-0388
pISSN - 0931-2668
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0388.2007.00697.x
Subject(s) - conjugated linoleic acid , haplotype , breed , biology , stearoyl coa desaturase , single nucleotide polymorphism , allele , genetics , gene , genotype , polymorphism (computer science) , linoleic acid , exon , fatty acid , gene expression , biochemistry
Summary Stearoyl CoA desaturase (SCD) is the key enzyme involved in the endogenous synthesis of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in ruminants. Changes in the enzymatic activity as a result of SCD gene polymorphism and regulation have been hypothesized to cause diet‐independent variations of CLA content in milk. Evidences for the direct influence of SCD polymorphism on fatty acid composition of milk and beef have also been reported. To evaluate genetic differences because of breed and/or selection goal, we investigated the polymorphism of three previously reported single nucleotide polymorphisms located in exon 5 of the SCD gene in 11 cattle breeds raised in Italy and selected for different production goals. Results obtained: (i) evidenced a high variability in the allele frequencies across breeds; (ii) detected three novel haplotypes, one of which is private to indigenous beef breeds, and (iii) showed a significant association between haplotypes and selective goal.