Short communication: Variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in DGAT1 gene of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is associated with milk constituents

• Published in: Journal of dairy science Vol. 98; no. 5; p. 3492
• Main Authors: Cardoso, D F, de Souza, G F P, Aspilcueta-Borquis, R R, Araujo Neto, F R, de Camargo, G M F, Hurtado-Lugo, N A, Scalez, D C B, de Freitas, A C, Albuquerque, L G, Tonhati, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-05-2015
• Subjects: Alleles; Animals; Buffaloes - genetics; Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase - genetics; Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase - metabolism; Dietary Fats - analysis; Female; Genotype; Lactation; Milk - chemistry; Milk Proteins - analysis; Minisatellite Repeats; Mutation; Phenotype; Polymorphism, Genetic; Promoter Regions, Genetic; variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR); Murrah; fat percentage; molecular marker
• ISSN: 1525-3198
• DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8729

The diacylglycerol-O-transferase 1 gene is a positional and functional candidate for milk composition traits. The objective of this study was to evaluate the segregation of the variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in the regulatory region of diacylglycerol-O-transferase 1 gene in a water buffalo herd, and to assess the association of this mutation with milk production traits. For this purpose, 196 Murrah buffalo cows were genotyped by PCR. The association of the marker with total milk, fat, and protein yields at 305 d of lactation, milk fat and protein percentage, and somatic cell scores were evaluated by single-trait analyses using a generalized mixed model. Two segregating alleles were identified in the population. The allele with 2 repeats affected fat percentage favorably. The present results suggest that this polymorphism is an interesting marker to include in the genetic evaluation of buffaloes.