RFLP-TspRI polymorphism within exon 1 of the bovine estrogen receptor- alpha (ER alpha ) gene

Estrogens regulate cellular activity by interacting with specifying intracellular receptor proteins. Due to the functions played in reproduction, development of the mammary gland, growth and differentiation of cells, estrogen receptors and their genes are considered candidates for the markers of production and functional traits in farm animals, including cattle. The detection is reported of a single-strand conformation polymorphism (SNP) within the coding region of the bovine estrogen receptor ER alpha gene - the A arrow right C transversion at position 503 in exon 1 - recognizable by RFLP with TspRI restriction endonuclease. This mutation does not change the amino acid sequence of ER alpha protein; both triplets - CCA and CCC - code for proline. This is the first ever report on the SNP polymorphism in the bovine ER protein-coding sequence.