Wang H, Zan L S, Wang H B, Song F B
College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest Agricultural and Foresty University, Yangling, Shaanxi, PR China.
Genet Mol Res. 2011 Sep 16;10(3):2069-77. doi: 10.4238/vol10-3gmr1032.
CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is an essential transcriptional factor regulating the differentiation of adipocytes. We report a novel single nucleotide polymorphism (C271A) of the C/EBPα gene in six indigenous Chinese cattle breeds using PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods. Allele frequencies were investigated and evaluated by the χ(2) test in 817 individuals; all populations were found to be in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Gene heterozygosity, effective allele numbers and polymorphism information content of the C/EBPα locus varied from 0.50 to 0.54, 1.84 to 1.99 and 0.35 to 0.37, respectively. We also evaluated a potential association of the C/EBPα SNP with ultrasound traits in 555 individuals; individuals of the AA genotype had greater ultrasound backfat thickness than did genotype CC (0.36 versus 0.34 cm, P < 0.01); genotypes AA and CA had higher ultrasound marbling scores than did genotype CC (3.53, 3.52 versus 3.37, P < 0.05). Analysis based on meat quality data in another 204 Qinchuan cattle showed that animals with genotype AA had bigger loin eye areas than did genotype CA (87.10 versus 79.08 cm(2), P < 0.05). These results indicate that the C271A SNP of the C/EBPα gene could be used as a molecular marker for selecting beef cattle with superior carcass traits.
CCAAT/增强子结合蛋白α（C/EBPα）是一种调节脂肪细胞分化的重要转录因子。我们采用PCR-SSCP和DNA测序方法，在中国六个本土牛品种中报道了C/EBPα基因的一个新型单核苷酸多态性（C271A）。通过χ²检验对817个个体的等位基因频率进行了调查和评估；发现所有群体均处于哈迪-温伯格平衡状态。C/EBPα基因座的基因杂合度、有效等位基因数和多态信息含量分别在0.50至0.54、1.84至1.99和0.35至0.37之间。我们还在555个个体中评估了C/EBPα单核苷酸多态性与超声性状的潜在关联；AA基因型个体的超声背膘厚度大于CC基因型个体（0.36对0.34厘米，P<0.01）；AA和CA基因型个体的超声大理石花纹评分高于CC基因型个体（3.53、3.52对3.37，P<0.05）。基于另外204头秦川牛的肉质数据进行的分析表明，AA基因型动物的眼肌面积大于CA基因型动物（87.10对79.08平方厘米，P<0.05）。这些结果表明，C/EBPα基因的C271A单核苷酸多态性可作为选择具有优良胴体性状肉牛的分子标记。
