Characterization of a microsatellite in the promoter region of the IGF1 gene in domestic horses and other equids

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) regulates growth and metabolic functions in vertebrates. A dinucleotide repeat sequence located at the promoter region of the IGF1 gene has been reported in several vertebrate species and may affect the control of the transcriptional activity of this gene. The genotypes of animals from seven horse breeds were determined in order to study the potential association of allelic forms of this microsatellite with adult body size differences found in domestic horses. Among these breeds, five alleles were found, Breed-specific differences in adult body size could not be attributed to the presence or absence of any of the alleles observed. In addition, animals representing five other equid species were typed. Examples of apparent species-specific alleles were found. However, overlapping polymorphic size ranges preclude this microsatellite from being an absolute identifier for species or hybrid status in equids. The polymorphisms found at this IGF1 locus are useful for synteny and Linkage mapping.