Molecular Characterization of PROP1 Gene SNP (g.748G>A) and Its Relationship with Growth Traits in Assam Hill Goats

Abstract

The PROP1 (Prophet of Pit-1) gene functions as a critical transcription factor influencing growth and developmental processes in livestock. This study investigated genetic polymorphisms in the PROP1 gene and their association with growth traits in Assam Hill goats. Genomic DNA was extracted from the blood samples, and primers targeting intron 1 and exon 1 were designed using Primer3Plus. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP, and population genetic parameters were analyzed with PopGene v1.32. A single nucleotide polymorphism, g.748G>A, was identified and genotyped using the restriction enzyme DrdI, revealing three genotypes: GG, GA, and AA. The A allele was more frequent (0.62) than the G allele (0.38). The SNP locus exhibited moderate polymorphism (PIC = 0.35), with an effective number of alleles (Ne) of 1.89 and expected heterozygosity (He) of 0.47. Association analysis revealed that animals with the AA genotype exhibited significantly higher body length, wither height, and chest girth (P < 0.05), indicating a favorable influence of the A allele on growth performance. These findings suggest that the PROP1 g.748G>A polymorphism may serve as a promising genetic marker for growth trait selection in Assam Hill goats. However, further validation in larger and genetically diverse goat populations is recommended to confirm its broader applicability.