Genetic polymorphism in a selective intron of ovine myostatin gene and its putative relation with carcass traits in sheep

The main aim of the present study is to identify a suitable polymorphic locus in the myostatin gene of sheep that could be associated with production in local sheep genetic groups of Andhra Pradesh province in India. Representative samples from three local genetic groups were used in the present study namely Nellore Jodipi, Nellore Brown and Macherla Brown. Two PCR-RFLP based SNP markers located in GDF-8 (myostatin-MYST) locus were used in the present study. A PCR-RFLP assay was developed for a SNP located in the intron1 (rs119102825) of the myostatin gene. The second marker is located in exon3 which was obtained from previous studies. The SNP located in Intron1 is polymorphic and the SNP located in exon3 is monomorphic. The polymorphism information content (PIC) of the SNP in intron1 is 0.37. Association studies with limited data showed lack of association of genotypes with body weight at different ages. However, based on bioinformatic prediction, it is likely that the SNP in the intron1 locus may be involved in meat quality determination as it is close to the donor site of intron and the variation has potentiality for enhancement or repression of the gene expression. Further association studies with meat quality traits would help in understanding functional implications of the polymorphism.