Polymorphisms of CCSER1 Gene and Their Correlation with Milk Quality Traits in Gannan Yak (Bos grunniens)

Abstract

Coiled-coil serine-rich protein 1 (CCSER 1) gene is a regulatory protein gene. This gene has been reported to be associated with various economic traits in large mammals in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between CCSER1 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and Gannan yaks and to identify potential molecular marker loci for breeding milk quality in Gannan yaks. We genotyped 172 Gannan yaks using Illumina Yak cGPS 7K liquid microarrays and analyzed the correlation between the three SNPs loci of the CCSER1 gene and the milk qualities of Gannan yaks, including milk fat, protein and casein. It was found that mutations at the g.183,843A>G, g.222,717C>G and g.388,723G>T loci all affected the fat, protein, casein and lactose traits of Gannan yak milk to varying extents, and that the milk quality of individuals with mutant phenotypes was significantly improved. Among them, the milk fat content of AG heterozygous genotype population at g.183,843A>G locus was significantly higher than that of AA and GG genotype populations (p < 0.05); the casein and protein content of mutant GG and CG genotype populations at g.222,717C>G locus was significantly higher than that of wild-type CC genotype population (p < 0.05); and the g.388,723G>T locus of the casein and protein contents of the mutant TT genotype population were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of the wild-type GG genotype population. These results provide potential molecular marker sites for Gannan yak breeding.