Variation in the Ovine KAP6-3 Gene ( KRTAP6-3 ) Is Associated with Variation in Mean Fibre Diameter-Associated Wool Traits

摘要

Polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis was used to investigate variation in the ovine KAP6-3 gene ( KRTAP6-3 ) in 383 Merino × Southdown-cross lambs from four sire-lines, and to determine whether this variation affects wool traits. Five PCR-SSCP banding patterns, representing five different nucleotide sequences, were detected, including four previously identified (named A , B , C, and F ) variants and one newly identified (named G ) variant. A new non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and a 45-bp deletion were detected in variant G . Of the three common genotypes ( AA , AB, and AG ) identified in these sheep, wool from sheep that were AG , on average, had a lower mean fibre diameter (MFD), fibre diameter standard deviation (FDSD), and prickle factor (PF) than wool from AA sheep, whereas wool from AB sheep, on average, had a higher MFD, FDSD, and PF than wool from AA sheep. This suggests that variation in ovine KRTAP6-3 affect MFD, FDSD, and PF, and that this gene may have potential for use as a gene-maker for improving fibre diameter-associated wool traits.