Association between PCR-SSCP of bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene and prolificacy in jining grey goats

The Jining Grey is a prolific local goat breed in P. R. China. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 ( BMP15) gene that controls high fecundity of Inverdale, Hanna, Lacaune, Belclare, Cambridge, and Small Tailed Han ewes was studied as a candidate gene for the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats. According to the sequence of ovine BMP15 gene, six pairs of primers were designed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms in exon 1 and exon 2 of the BMP15 gene in both high fecundity breed ( Jining Grey goats) and low fecundity breeds ( Boer, Liaoning Cashmere, and Inner Mongolia Cashmere goats) by single strand conformation polymorphism ( SSCP). Two pairs of primers ( F1/ R1 and F2/ R2) were used to amplify the exon 1. Four pairs of primers ( F3/ R3, F4/ R4, F5/ R5, and F6/ R6) were used to amplify the exon 2. Only the products amplified by primer F5/ R5 displayed polymorphism. Results indicated that two genotypes ( AA and AB) were detected in prolific Jining Grey goats and only one genotype ( AA) was detected in low fecundity goat breeds. In Jining Grey goats frequencies of genotypes AA and AB were 0.10 and 0.90, respectively. Sequencing revealed two point mutations ( G963A and G1050C) of BMP15 gene in the AB genotype in comparison to the AA genotype. In Jining Grey goats the heterozygous AB does had 1.13 ( p< 0.01) kids more than the homozygous AA does. These results preliminarily showed that the BMP15 gene is either a major gene that influences the prolificacy of Jining Grey goats or a molecular genetic marker in close linkage with such a gene.