Restriction fragment length polymorphism in amplification products of the bovine butyrophilin gene: assignment of bovine butyronhilin to bovine chromosome 23

A polymorphism was identified in the bovine butyrophilin (BTN) gene by digesting poly-merase chain reaction products with the restriction enzyme Hae III. This polymorphism was segregating in a Holstein-Friesian sire selected as part of an ongoing study directed towards the identification of quantitative trait loci affecting milk composition. Screening of a half-sib family established for the heterozygous sire allowed the localization of BTN to bovine chromosome 23 (BTA23).     

Linkage between the loci for serum albumin and vitamin D binding protein (GC) in the Japanese quail

Vitamin D binding protein ( GC ) and serum protease inhibitor ( PI ) have been added to genetic markers in the Japanese quail. Both loci were controlled by autosomal codominant alleles named GC^A, GC^B and PI^A, PI^B, PI^C, respectively. Close linkage between the loci for serum albumin ( ALB ) and GC protein is reported. Two recombinants were observed in 145 informative offspring of 14 families. The recombination frequency between the loci was estimated as 0.014±0.006. Thus, GC was assigned to linkage group II in the Japanese quail. No signs of linkage were observed among the loci for the ALB-GC complex, PI. serum prealbumin 2 ( PA2 ), phosphoglucose isomerase ( PG1 ), 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase ( PGD ) and esterase-D ( ESD ).     

Genetic control of the quantitative variation of erythrocytic glyoxalase-1 (GLO-1) in mice

Quantitative genetic variation in the glyoxalase-1 content (QGlo-1) of red cells of mice is described. Its genetic control is shown to be exerted by either the Glo-1 locus or a closely linked gene to the left of H-2K. At least six alleles, designated QGlo-1 ^a through QGlo-1 ^f, can be found in different inbred strains of mice.This work was supported in part by Grants HL 0911 and AI 15413 of the National Institutes of Health and by a grant from the Sally and Alma Solomon Foundation.     

Prediction of the halothane (Hal) genotypes of pigs by deducing Hal, Phi, Po2, Pgd haplotypes of parents and offspring: results from a large-scale practice in Swedish breeds

Results from a large-scale study, comprising 75 different breeding herds, are reported on predicting the halothane ( Hal ) genotypes of individual pigs by making use of the known close linkage between Hal and three C blood marker loci ( Phi, Po2, Pgd ). The parents haplotypes (involving Hal and marker loci) were determined from the HAL phenotypes (halothane test results) and marker loci phenotypes of their offspring in the first one or two litters studied. In subsequent litters of the Hal -marker loci haplotyped parents, the offspring's expected Hal genotypes could be predicted on the basis of the marker loci haplotypes inherited by them. By comparing the expected and observed HAL phenotypes of offspring in subsequent litters, the predicted Hal genotype was found to be correct in 90–95 % of the 4000 offspring (from Nn × Nn and Nn × nn matings) of Swedish Landrace and Yorkshire breeds studied.
The order of the three marker loci was confirmed as Phi-Po2-Pgd but the position of Hal with regards to Phi could not be resolved. The recombination frequencies between the most distant loci in this region, viz. Hal-Pgd and Phi-Pgd , were estimated to be 3–4.5 % and 4–6 % , respectively. The easy and rapid electrophoretic techniques described in the study to phenotype PHI, PO2, PGD, also allowed phe-notyping of six other polymorphic protein systems on the same gels. Thus Hal genotyping and effective parentage control can be conducted simultaneously.     

Joint multiple quantitative trait loci mapping for allometries of body compositions and metabolic traits to body weights in broiler

In order to map quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for allometries of body compositions and metabolic traits in chicken, we phenotypically characterize the allometric growths of multiple body components and metabolic traits relative to BWs using joint allometric scaling models and then establish random regression models (RRMs) to fit genetic effects of markers and minor polygenes derived from the pedigree on the allometric scalings. Prior to statistically inferring the QTLs for the allometric scalings by solving the RRMs, the LASSO technique is adopted to rapidly shrink most of marker genetic effects to zero. Computer simulation analysis confirms the reliability and adaptability of the so-called LASSO-RRM mapping method. In the F₂ population constructed by multiple families, we formulate two joint allometric scaling models of body compositions and metabolic traits, in which six of nine body compositions are tested as significant, while six of eight metabolic traits are as significant. For body compositions, a total of 14 QTLs, of which 9 dominant, were detected to be associated with the allometric scalings of drumstick, fat, heart, shank, liver and spleen to BWs; while for metabolic traits, a total of 19 QTLs also including 9 dominant be responsible for the allometries of T4, IGFI, IGFII, GLC, INS, IGR to BWs. The detectable QTLs or highly linked markers can be used to regulate relative growths of the body components and metabolic traits to BWs in marker-assisted breeding of chickens.     

The position of the epistatic S locus in the halothane linkage group in pigs

The linkage of the Phi, Pgd, Po2, S, H and halothane sensitivity loci was followed in a Belgian Landrace family, heterozygous for these systems over 6 generations. Recombination next to the S locus occurred mainly in pigs belonging to this particular family. From this investigation the position of the S locus is proved to be outwith the Phi-Pgd region, next to Phi . Therefore the gene sequence S - Phi - Hal -H- Po2 -Pgd is proposed. Higher recombination rates were observed in the female parental line of the multiheterozygous family when compared to the male parental line. Additional data from animals, unrelated to this strain, confirm the evidence of close linkage of the S system to the nearest marker loci.     

RFLP and linkage analysis of the porcine casein loci—CASAS1, CASAS2, CASB and CASK

Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were revealed at the porcine casein loci with the following combinations of restriction endonucleases and porcine cDNA clones: α_s1,-casein (TaqI); α_s2-casein (BamHI); and ß-casein (Sacl). These RFLPs were shown to be under simple monogenic control by segregation analysis of two- and three-generation families. The CASAS1, CASAS2 and CASB casein loci were also shown to be linked with no recombinant haplotypes observed amongst 77 meioses in Large White and Meishan F₁ and F₂ crosses. No recombinants were observed in a further 106 meioses that were informative for linkage between CASAS1 and CASAS2.     

Production of keto-disaccharides from aldo-disaccharides in subcritical aqueous ethanol

Isomerization of disaccharides (maltose, isomaltose, cellobiose, lactose, melibiose, palatinose, sucrose, and trehalose) was investigated in subcritical aqueous ethanol. A marked increase in the isomerization of aldo-disaccharides to keto-disaccharides was noted and their hydrolytic reactions were suppressed with increasing ethanol concentration. Under any study condition, the maximum yield of keto-disaccharides produced from aldo-disaccharides linked by β-glycosidic bond was higher than that produced from aldo-disaccharides linked by α-glycosidic bond. Palatinose, a keto-disaccharide, mainly underwent decomposition rather than isomerization in subcritical water and subcritical aqueous ethanol. No isomerization was noted for the non-reducing disaccharides trehalose and sucrose. The rate constant of maltose to maltulose isomerization almost doubled by changing solvent from subcritical water to 80 wt% aqueous ethanol at 220 °C. Increased maltose monohydrate concentration in feed decreased the conversion of maltose and the maximum yield of maltulose, but increased the productivity of maltulose. The maximum productivity of maltulose was ca. 41 g/(h kg-solution).     

Linkage of hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis in Quarter horses to the horse adult skeletal muscle sodium channel gene

A genetic disease observed in certain Quarter horses is hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis (HYPP). This disease causes attacks of paralysis which can be induced by ingestion of potassium. Recent studies have shown that HYPP in humans is due to single base changes within the adult skeletal muscle sodium channel gene. A large Quarter horse pedigree segregating dominant HYPP was studied to determine if mutations of the sodium channel gene are similarly responsible for HYPP in horses. We used cross-species, PCR-mediated, cDNA cloning and sequencing of the horse adult skeletal muscle sodium channel alpha-subunit gene to identify a polymorphism, and then used this polymorphism to see if the horse sodium channel gene was genetically linked to HYPP in horses. The sodium channel gene was indeed found to be tightly linked to HYPP (LOD = 2.7, theta = 0). Our results suggest that HYPP in horses involves the same gene as the clinically similar human disease, and indicates that these are homologous disorders. The future identification of the specific sodium channel mutation causing HYPP in Quarter horses will permit the development of accurate molecular diagnostics of this condition, as has been recently shown for humans.