Variation in ovine KRTAP8-1 is associated with variation in wool fibre staple strength and curvature. (21st August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gong, H.; Zhou, H.; Li, W.; Wang, J.; Li, S.; Luo, Y.; Hickford, J. G. H.
• Is Part Of: Journal of agricultural science. Volume 157:Number 6(2019)
• Page Start: 550
• Page End: 554
• Publication Date: 2019-08-21
• Subjects: Fibre curvature, -- fibre staple strength, -- keratin-associated protein 8-1 gene (KRTAP8-1), -- sheep, -- variation, -- wool; Agriculture -- Periodicals; 630.5
• DOI: 10.1017/S0021859619000741
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0021-8596

Abstract

Abstract: KRTAP8-1 was the initial high-glycine-tyrosine keratin-associated protein gene recognized in sheep, but little is known about the functional influence of this gene. The current study used polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism analysis to genotype KRTAP8-1 in 391 Southdown × Merino-cross sheep from six sire-lines. Five previously described variants (named A to E ) of KRTAP8-1 were identified with frequencies of 67.0, 14.2, 7.0, 10.7 and 1.0%, respectively. Of the four variants ( A, B, C and D ) that occurred at a frequency greater than 5%, the presence of C was found to be associated with a reduction in mean fibre curvature (MFC) and the presence of D was associated with an increase in mean staple strength (MSS), whereas the presence of A had a trend of association with reduced MSS. Associations were not identified with other wool traits. These results suggest that variation in KRTAP8-1 affects MSS and MFC, and that KRTAP8-1 has the potential to be used as a genetic marker for improving these traits.