Molecular Characterization of Keratin Associated Protein (KAP11.1) Gene for Wool Quality in Rambouillet Sheep

A study was aimed to conduct molecular characterization of keratin-associated protein 11.1 (KAP11.1) gene in Rambouillet sheep and to elucidate its evolutionary relationships with homologous gene sequences across diverse mammalian species. A 439 bp fragment was amplified using gene-specific primers, sequenced, and analyzed through bioinformatics tools. BLAST results indicated 99.25% identity with Ovis aries and 98.48% identity with Capra hircus, while lower similarity was observed with non-ruminants, including Homo sapiens, Mus musculus, and Cavia porcellus. Nucleotide composition analysis revealed a GC-rich structure (62.1%) in Rambouillet sheep, suggesting sequence stability. Multiple sequence alignment demonstrated conserved cysteine-rich motifs, particularly among small ruminants. Phylogenetic analysis clustered Rambouillet sheep with Capra hircus and other sheep breeds, supported by strong bootstrap values. Pair-wise distance analysis reflected minimal divergence from other ruminants and greater genetic distance from unrelated taxa. Tajima's D neutrality test yielded a slightly negative value (-0.2289), indicating possible weak purifying selection or demographic stability. The findings establish KAP11.1 as a structurally conserved and potentially important gene with applicability as a molecular marker for wool trait improvement in Rambouillet sheep.