Polymorphism Of Partial Sequence Of FSHR Genes Association With Some Reproductive Traits In Yaks And Bioinformatics Analysis Of FSHR Gene

Objective: Yak (Bos grunniens) was one of the most important and specialbreed living in high mountain grassland at harsh climate with extremelycold temperature and low oxygen content. They were excellent pack animals,and as they also produced milk and meat, they were of vital importanceto the people living in high altitude areas. Yak had low reproductiveefficiency, most yak cows calved only once every2years or twice every3years. There was, however, no information available on the reproductivehormone receptors in yak. To provide a basic information for solving thelong-time calving interval in yak through the method of hereditarybreeding, the present study was carried out to analyze the polymorphismof the5’ flank region and exon1of follicle stimulating hormonereceptor (FSHR) gene, also to determine their association withreproductive traits. And to lay a theoretical foundation of improvingthe reproduce，the present study was carried out to analyze the biologicalcharacteristics of FSHR gene.Methods:（1)PCR-SSCP assay was used to screen the polymorphisms of FSHRgene in667yaks from4yak breeds.(2)Least square linear model was used to determine the relationshipbetween the polymorphism of FSHR gene and calving interval.(3)The bioinformatics of FSHR gene were analyzed by genomics database.The physicochemical characteristics, structures and functions of FSHRgene coding product were predicted and analyzed. Meanwhile, thephylogenetic tree of FSHR was constructed.Results:(1)Three fragments of940bp in size for yak FSHR gene wereamplified and sequenced, including the5’ flank region and exon1. Ithad high homology with the corresponding sequences of other mammalianspecies both at mRNA and amino acid levels.(2)Altogether9mutation sites were found and one of them was in the open reading frame with leading to synonymous mutate.(3)The calving interval among different populations had significantdifference (P＜0.05). No significant difference (P＞0.05) existedbetween calving interval in different genotypes of FSHR gene, while atrend for shortening calving interval was found in the genotypes of AB,LL, LM, LN and RT.(4)FSHR gene coding product is hydrophobic transmembrane protein, whichhas obvious signal peptide, and the cleavage site of the signal peptidewas between pos.17and18. The secondary structure was primarilycomposed of alpha helix and random coil, and the biological effect ofFSHR was performed in the plasma membrane. And the transmembrane Segmentscomposed of extracellular domain, transmembrane domain andintracellular domain.(5)Sequence analysis indicated that this gene coding product mightinvolve in ion channel, transporter, receptor, signal transducer, cationchannel, and play important roles in ion transmembrane and signaltransduction, and the hormonal regulation of bos taurus was influenced.The FSHR of bos taurus and related proteins of bubalus bubalis, caprahircus, ovis aries were close in the phylogenetic tree, which showedhighly homology.Conclusion: This research had provided theoretical basis and researchbasis to the association of FSHR gene and reproductive traits, and theyak breeding marker-assisted breeding. While the bioinformatics wouldbe conducive to the further study on FSHR gene and protein functions.