ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN NEWLY DISCOVERED POLYMORPHISMS OF THE MyoD1 GENE AND BODY PARAMETERS IN STAVROPOL BREED RAMS

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the MyoD1 gene polymorphisms on some body parameters in sheep. MyoD1 polymorphisms were detected using NimbleGen sequencing technology (Roche, USA). The effect of polymorphisms identified was investigated in Stavropol sheep breed rams (n=30). In coding and regulatory parts of gene 26, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were detected. These were the substitutions: c.-2112C>G, c.-1806A>G, c.-1687T>C, c.1608C>T, c.-1603G>T, c.-1578G>A, c.-1235G>A, c.-910G>T, c.-909G>T, c.-880G>A, c.-637C>T, c.-412G>T, c.244C>T, c.246G>T, c.253G>T, c.259G>C, c.261C>T, c.269C>G, c.274C>A, c.276C>G, c.277C>A, c.279C>T, c.281C>A, c.287C>A, c.325T>C and c.483C>T. Sixteen of these SNPs have been identified for the first time. The complex of the four SNPs c.-1578, c.-880, c.-637, c.325 and c.-1235 occurred in Stavropol sheep breed only together. The study of the influence of these SNPs on the body parameters of rams showed the absence of significant correlation between their presence and the body size of the animals. The SNPs c.-910 and c.-909 were associated with improved body parameters, but they were found in a very small numbers of animals, which does not allow making definitive conclusions.