Single nucleotide polymorphisms a-lactalbumin gene in cattle and their effect in mature protein

Abstract

Indigenous cattle breeds of Southern India (Amrithmahal, Krishna Valley, Haliikar, Deoni, Ongole and Malnad Gidda) and Holstein crosses (HF x Sahiwal) were screened for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the coding sequence of the bovine alpha lactalbumin gene. SNPs at 4 positions (772, 775, 792 and 851) in exon 1 and 3 positions at 1231, 1264 and 1335 in exon 2 were detected by SSCP analysis and the same were confirmed by direct sequencing of the PCR products. The amino acid change in the protein due to SNPs in the coding region were predicted based on Transeq predict database ofEMBL-EBI. The polymorphism at positions 792, 1231 and 1335 were silent polymorphisms in the coding region of the gene, while the SNPs observed at positions 772, 775, 851 and 1264 are expected to bring about amino acid changes (S~T, F~L, R~Q and I~V respectively) in the protein. The effect of the SNPs in the mature protein was interpreted based on the crystal structure of bovine a-LA.