PCR-SSCP and Hin6I PCR-RFLP detecting novel anonymous SNPs within ovine PROP1 gene (Brief report)

PROP1 plays a direct or indirect key role in the ontogenesis of pituitary gonadotropes, as well as somatotropes, lactotropes and caudomedial thyrotropes (WU et al., 1998). Mutations of PROP1 are responsible for deficiencies of POU1F1, GH, prolactin (PRL) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) in Snell and Jackson dwarf mice and in man, as well as deficiencies of LH and FSH, suggesting that the PROP1 gene is a potential candidate gene associating with production traits in animal breeding and genetics. To date, no polymorphism of PROP1 gene has been reported in ruminant animals except bovine (PAN et al., 2007). So, the objective of this study is to investigate the polymorphism of all coding regions within ovine PROP1 gene by PCR-SSCP, DNA sequencing and PCR-RFLP methods, which will possibly contribute to conducting association analysis and evaluating them as genetic markers in animal breeding and genetics.