A New AS-PCR Method to Detect CSN201 Allele, Genotyping at Ca-Sensitive Caseins Loci and Milk Traits Association Studies in Autochthonous Lazio Goats

Abstract

Calcium-sensitive caseins are the main protein component of milk. In the goat, they are encoded by three genes (CSN1S1, CSN2, and CSN1S2) located on chromosome 6. A high number of alleles has been discovered for these genes in the goat species, responsible for changes in the milk’s qualitative and quantitative characteristics. This study aimed to develop an Allele-Specific PCR (AS-PCR), which allowed us to unequivocally detect goat carriers of the CSN201 allele. Subsequently, the calcium-sensitive casein loci genotype was investigated in three native goat breeds of the Lazio Region (Bianca Monticellana, Capestrina, and Ciociara Grigia). No individuals were carriers of the CSN1S101, CSN1S1E, CSN201, CSN1S2D, and CSN1S20 alleles, while a high frequency of the alleles CSN1S1F and CSN1S1A*,B* was observed. Association analyses between the different genotypes at the CSN1S1 locus and some milk traits, namely the fat and protein yielded and the fat, protein, solids-not-fat, and casein percentages without an effect on the milk yield, were observed.