Identification of deer antler species using sequence analysis and PCR-RFLP of mitochondrial DNA

It is estimated that over 80% of deer antlers produced in the world are consumed in Korea. However, mislabeling or fraudulent replacement of costly antlers with cheaper ones is one of the most common problems in the domestic antler market. Therefore. there is it great need for the development of technology to identify species of antlers. This study, was carried out to develop all accurate and reliable method for the identification and authentication of species or subspecies of antlers using DNA sequence analysis and comparison of mitochondrial cytochrome b and D-loop region genes among antlers of five deer species, Cervus elaphus sibericus. Cervus elaphus canadensis, Cervus nippon, Cervus elaphus bactrianus and Rangifer tarandus. A variable region of cytochrome b and D-loop genes was amplified using PCR with specifically designed primers and sequenced directly. The cytochrome b and D-loop region genes showed different DNA sequences between the species, of antlers and thus it is possible to differentiate between species oil the basis of sequence variation. To distinguish between reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) antlers and other deer antlers. PCR amplicons of the cytochrome b gene were digested with the restriction enzymes NlaIV and TaqI, respectively, which generates a species-specific DNA profile of the reindeer. lit addition, samples of 32 sliced antlers labeled Cervus elaphus sibericus from commercial markets were collected randomly and the tilt DNA D-loop region of these antler samples was sequenced. Among the antler samples investigated, only 62.5% were from Cervus elaphus sibericus. and others were from Cervus elaphus bactrianus (25.0%). elk (Cervus elaphus canadensis) and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). Our results suggest that DNA sequencing of mt DNA and PCR-RFLP methods using NlaIV and TapI enzymes are useful for the identification and discrimination of deer antler species by routine analysis.