Distribution of C-816T/T-754C locus in the GPR54 gene in different cattle breeds and their association with precocity
The GPR54 gene is an important candidate gene for bovine early maturity characters. Forty-two Anhui local cattles(AL), 44 Simmental cattles(ST), and 116 hybrid cattles(HC) from the breeding group of AL×ST were selected. The distribution of C-816T/T-754 C locus in GPR54 and their association with the precocity trait were analyzed in different cattle breeds. All DNA samples were extracted from the ear tissue or blood. SNP loci in target fragments were identified by sequencing the PCR products. The effects of the SNP loci on the promoter efficiency were validated using a dual luciferase report gene. The results showed that two SNP loci, T-754 C and C-816 T, in 5' regulatory region of the GPR54 gene were detected. The genotypes of ST and AL were CCTT and TTCC, respectively, with linkage disequilibrium using the haplotype analysis. The efficiency difference between two haplotype promoters was significant in which the efficiency of-816CT-754 promoter increased 34.31% than that of-816TC-754 promoter(P0.01). A correlation analysis showed that cattle puberty of the 816CC754 TT genotype was 1.28 months earlier than that of the 816TT754 CC genotype(P0.01).