CHARACTERIZATION AT PROTEIN LEVEL OF THE NEW αS1 CASEIN ALLELE IRV DISCOVERED IN ROMANIAN GREY STEPPE CATTLE BREED MOLDAVIAN VARIETY

Abstract

In this paper we describe the characterization at the protein level of αS1-casein I RV allele discovered in Romanian Grey Steppe Cattle Moldavian variety, an autochthon Bos Taurus Primigenius breed belonging Grey cattle family. In order to identify the aminoacid/s substitution/s, responsible/s for the appearance of this new αS1 variant, milk samples, collected from 2 cows previously identified as carriers of mutant αS1 allele in heterozygous condition (BIRV, CIRV) and 2 reference samples (BB,CC), were purified by RP-HPLC. After purification, αS1-casein fraction collected from each sample was submitted to hydrolysis and tryptic hydrolysates were analyzed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-Tof and Orbitrap). The only possible substitution found is concerning the glutamine (Q) residue codified by codons from exons 8, 9 or 11. This is under study also at DNA level. This discovery could clarify the phylogenetic relationships between Romanian Grey Steppe Cattle, Moldavian Variety (autochthon Bos Taurus Primigenius) and their cousins from Africa and Asia.

Keywords

• romanian grey steppe cattle
• αs1-casein irv
• genetic polymorphism
• cattle phylogenetic relationships