Identification of SNPs in the promoter of β-lactoglobulin gene in three Sicilian goat breeds

Abstract

The aim of this work was to sequence the full-length promoter region of the caprine β-lactoglobulin (β-lg) gene in three Sicilian goat breeds (Girgentana, Maltese, and Derivata di Siria), in order to identify polymorphisms, to search for transcription factors (TFs) sites, and to check if polymorphisms found lay within TFs binding sites. The promoter region of β-lg gene in Sicilian goat breeds showed high level of polymorphism due to the presence of 31 SNPs. Binding sites for several TFs were found within the goat β-lg promoter and within regions conserved between ovine and caprine species. Two SNPs were detected within TFs binding sites, such as MPBF and NF-I. Further studies are in progress to confirm polymorphic sites, to evaluate the possible effect of these mutations on binding affinity of TFs, their relationship with β-lg gene expression, and the functional role of SNPs within the TFs sites of the promoter region on milk traits.