Polymorphism of Keratin Gene <i>KRT71</i> and Its Relationship with Wool Properties in Gansu Alpine Fine-Wool Sheep
Fangfang Zhao,
Zhaohua He,
Hongxian Sun,
Jiqing Wang,
Xiu Liu,
Zhiyun Hao,
Mingna Li,
Shaobin Li
Affiliations
Fangfang Zhao
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Zhaohua He
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Hongxian Sun
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Jiqing Wang
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Xiu Liu
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Zhiyun Hao
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Mingna Li
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Shaobin Li
Gansu Key Laboratory of Herbivorous Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Science and Technology, International Wool Research Institute, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Keratin plays a crucial role in wool formation. Conducting polymorphism studies on key keratin genes is helpful in identifying key SNP sites that might influence wool traits. In this research, kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping and protein immunofluorescence techniques were used to explore the polymorphisms of the KRT71 gene in Gansu alpine fine-wool sheep, analyze the relationship between the gene polymorphisms and wool production traits, and examine the expression and localization of the KRT71 protein in the hair follicles of fine-wool sheep. The results indicated that there were two single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5′ UTR and exon 9 of the KRT71 gene, named SNP1 (C.-7G/C) and SNP2 (C.1500G/A), respectively. Regarding SNP1, the mean stable length (MSL) of GG genotype individuals was significantly longer than that of GC genotype individuals (p GG genotype individuals was significantly greater than that of GA genotype individuals (p KRT71 gene could be an important candidate gene for improvements in wool length.
