A Profile of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Fecundity Genes Among Iranian Sheep Breeds by Using Polymerase Chain Reaction–Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) Method

Abstract

Ovulation rate and litter size are traits of fecundity and have a very remarkable economic value that leads to an increase in the production of meat, wool and milk. Therefore, exploring on the candidate and functional genes for these traits is very important. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor-1B (BMPR1B) are the most important of these genes containing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers that are associated with high fertility in sheeps. The aim of this study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of seven of these SNPs including; G1, G4, G7 and G8 in <em>GDF9</em> gene, B2 and B4 in <em>BMP15</em> gene and FecB in <em>BMPR1B</em> gene among 532 sheeps from eleven of Iranian native breeds using polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. For each mutation region, polymerase chain reactions and digestion reactions with specific endonuclease enzymes, were performed. The results showed that G1 mutation presents among ten breeds except Zandi, G4 mutation in all breeds, and the FecB mutation in two breeds; Kalakuei and Zandi. The G7, G8, B2 and B4 mutations were not observed in any of breeds, and all sheeps were homozygote wild type for these four positions.