Analysis of Polymorphism of Caplstatin and Callipyge Genes in Saudi Sheep Breeds Using PCR-RFLP Technique

Abstract

With the recent advances in molecular biology techniques, a great interest focused towards the improving livestock production in general and meat production in specific. In the present study is to identify the genetic polymorphism of calpastatin and callipyge genes (CAST and Clpy) related to meat production in two Saudi sheep breeds (Najdi and Harri). The detection was done using the restriction fragment length polymorphism for the polymerase chain reaction products (PCR-RFLPs). Genomic DNA was isolated from 20 animals from each breed; The PCR products were digested with MspI restriction enzyme for calpastatin gene and FaqI restriction enzyme for callipyge gene. The results indicated the presence of polymorphism in the callipyge gene was detected homozygous genotype AA – 1.00 only in the two breeds understudy. The heterozygous genotype AG and homozygous genotype GG was not detected. Calpastatin locus digested with MspI had two genotypes MM and MN. The highest allelic frequency was for allele M allele but homozygous genotype NN has not been observed. The CAST locus had two genotypes MM (0.64 and 0.26 from Najdi and Harri) and MN (0.36 and 0.74 from Najdi and Harri), but homozygous genotype NN has not been observed. It may be concluded that CLPG locus is a monomorphic for population sheep kept in Saudi. The locus of CAST gene is polymorphic for breeds of sheep involved Najdi and Harri. Najdi sheep breed showed the highest observed heterozygosity for CAST gene.