Characterization of exon 14 and intron 5 of the SREBP-1 gene and its relationship with milk traits in Sarda goat

"\"SREBP (sterol regulatory element binding protein) is a family of transcription factor that regulates the expression levels of some genes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis and uptake. SREBP-1 is an isoform member of SREBP family, and it controls the synthesis of fatty acids in various tissues such as the mammary gland. In cattle mutations in exon 14 and a deletion in intron 5 showed to influence the amount of milk fat yield and carcass traits. The aim of the present study was to screen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or insertion\\\/deletion in the exon 14 and intron 5 of the SREPB-1 gene and to evaluate possible relationship with milk traits in Sarda goats. Two-hundred multiparous goat, from 3 to 6 years-old and in their third to fourth lactation, were randomly chosen from four farm located in Sardinia. From each goat a blood sample was taken to DNA extraction and to perform PCR-SSCP analysis of exon14 and intron 5. Moreover, from each goats, every month, from 45th day to 140th day of lactation, milk yield was recorded and a milk sample was taken to assay fat, protein and lactose concentration. Ten randomly chosen PCR products were sequenced in both directions. No different migration patterns in SSCP analysis were found. Our data evidenced no variation in Sarda goat exon 14 and intron 5 of the SREBP-1 gene contrarily to that found in the cattle. Sarda goat produces a high milk fat concentration and this presumably is the result of a genetic selection made by farmers in several years. So this could have led to the removal of the genetic variants producing low-fat milk resulting also in little variability of these traits of the SREBP-1 gene analysed. However, to extend the knowledge about SREBP-1 gene in this goat breed it would be necessary to enlarge the number of samples and to study other parts of this gene.\""