Genetic analysis of sexual dimorphism in growth of Jamunapari goats of India.

A genetic study of sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in Jamunapari goats was carried out to identify differences between sexes in genetic control of body weight at birth and at 3 (weaning), 6, 9 and 12 months of age. A total of 6,687 kids out of 264 sires and 1,704 dams were used in the study. Estimates of SSD were derived from male:female body weight ratios. Males were 9.9, 6.8, 9.3, 13.7 and 16.8% heavier than females at birth and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age, respectively, demonstrating modest SSD. Phenotypic standard deviations were larger for male kids and tended to be proportional to body weight means. However, males also had somewhat greater phenotypic coefficients of variation and total resemblance among relatives. Additive direct genetic correlations between body weights of males and females exceeded 0.96 at birth and weaning. Corresponding additive maternal correlations exceeded 0.99. Additive direct correlations between sexes were somewhat less than unity for postweaning weights but exceeded 0.80 in multi-trait models. Our results indicated that body weights could be treated as the same trait in males and females, but the use of different phenotypic variances for the two sexes would improve accuracies of breeding value predictions. High genetic correlations between body weights in males and females suggest limited opportunity to use sex-specific selection to create or modify SSD or create divergent body weight phenotypes between sexes.

Functional milk proteome analysis of genetically diverse goats from different agro climatic regions.

Goat milk, a choice of substitution to mother's milk for its composition, fulfils nutritional requirement of infants, pregnant mothers and older people. The present study was carried out to unravel the milk proteome profiles from geographically and genetically diverse goat breeds by gel based 2DE and nLC-MS/MS. A total of 1307 functional proteins comprising casein and other low abundance proteins were identified. Gene annotations revealed that the majority of the proteins were involved in binding function, catalytic activity and structural molecules and localised in nucleus and membrane. The distinguished proteins were involved in 144 KEGG pathways in information processing, metabolism, cellular process, organismal systems and diseases. The large number of proteins and peptides including bioactive peptides were reported from goat milk from diverse agro-climatic regions of India indicating their significant potential for human health applications. SIGNIFICANCE: Goat milk in India is used in various Ayurvedic formulations to treat a number of ailments and allergies as well as for nutraceutical formulations. The study identifies milk protein variants both at protein and DNA level and subsequent identification of proteins by 2DE and nLC-MS/MS resulting in a proteome comprising of 1307 proteins. The specific proteins and peptides having significant role in immune regulation, disease pathways, cellular growth and metabolism have been identified. The results contribute to goat milk protein and peptide database which is very limited. We identified proteins for specific functional categories and associated them with different pathways for studying functional diversity of goat milk proteins. The proteins and peptides identified can be used for multiple human health application.

Poly I:C stimulation in-vitro as a marker for an antiviral response in different cell types generated from Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

The innate immune system is activated upon virus invasion of a host cell by recognizing viral component, such as dsRNA through specific receptors, resulting in the production of type- I IFNs, which confer an antiviral state within the invaded as well as surrounding cells. In the present study, fibroblast, monocyte and macrophage cells derived from water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) were exposed to a synthetic dsRNA analogue, poly I:C to mimic viral invasion in each cell type. Recognition of poly I:C through cytosolic helicase receptors RIG-I and MDA5 molecule lead to the activation of the RLR pathway, subsequently activating the MAVS-IRF3/7 cascade and the production of antiviral effector molecule like IFNß and ISGs. Within the different cell types, we identified variability in RLR receptor and IFNß expression after poly I:C administration. Fibroblasts responded quickly and strongly with IFNß production, followed by macrophages and monocytes. Despite absolute expression variability among different cell types the expression trend of RLRs pathway genes were similar. Length of poly I:C molecule also influence IFNß expression in response of RLR pathway. Short (LMW) poly I:C induce stronger IFN-ß expression in myeloid (macrophage and monocyte) cells. In contrast long (HMW) poly I:C preferably elicit higher IFNß expression in non-myeloid (fibroblast) cell. Therefore, MDA5 and RIG-1 plays an indispensable role in eliciting antiviral response in non- immune (fibroblast) host cell. Thus, stimulation of RLR pathway with suitable and potentially cell-type specific agonist molecules successfully elicit antiviral state in the host animal, with fibroblasts conferring a stronger antiviral state compared with the monocytes and macrophages.

Microsatellite-based phylogeny of Indian domestic goats.

BACKGROUND: The domestic goat is one of the important livestock species of India. In the present study we assess genetic diversity of Indian goats using 17 microsatellite markers. Breeds were sampled from their natural habitat, covering different agroclimatic zones. RESULTS: The mean number of alleles per locus (NA) ranged from 8.1 in Barbari to 9.7 in Jakhrana goats. The mean expected heterozygosity (He) ranged from 0.739 in Barbari to 0.783 in Jakhrana goats. Deviations from Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE) were statistically significant (P < 0.05) for 5 loci breed combinations. The DA measure of genetic distance between pairs of breeds indicated that the lowest distance was between Marwari and Sirohi (0.135). The highest distance was between Pashmina and Black Bengal. An analysis of molecular variance indicated that 6.59% of variance exists among the Indian goat breeds. Both a phylogenetic tree and Principal Component Analysis showed the distribution of breeds in two major clusters with respect to their geographic distribution. CONCLUSION: Our study concludes that Indian goat populations can be classified into distinct genetic groups or breeds based on the microsatellites as well as mtDNA information.

Polymorphism of beta-lactoglobulin gene in Indian goats and its effect on milk yield.

Polymorphism in the beta-LG gene in the Indian goat was investigated by the SDS-PAGE and PCR-RFLP method. SDS-PAGE was carried out in 1098 samples belonging to 8 different breeds of Indian goats. The electrophoretic pattern in the beta-LG locus showed the presence of AA and AB genotypes with frequencies of 0.81 and 0.19, 0.89 and 0.11, 0.50 and 0.50, 0.80 and 0.20, 0.84 and 0.16, 1.00 and 0.00, 0.98 and 0.02 and 0.950 and 0.050 in Jamunapari, Barbari, Marwari, Sirohi, Jakhrana, Beetal, Local UP and Local MP goats, respectively. A total of 358 individuals belonging to 13 different genetic groups were analyzed by the PCR-RFLP method. The amplified product was observed as 426 bp and the restriction digestion with SacII revealed three genotypes, namely S1S1, S1S2 and S2S2 at the beta-LG locus. The frequency of the S2S2 genotype ranged from 0.42 to 1.00 in the population. An analysis was carried out in Jamunapari and Barbari goats to observe the effect of the beta-LG genotype on 90-day milk yield. Least squares analysis of data showed that beta-LG AA animals had higher milk yield than the beta-LG AB genotype in both breeds (P < 0.01).

Phylogeography and origin of Indian domestic goats.

The Indian subcontinent contains 20 well-characterized goat breeds, which vary in their genetic potential for the production of milk, meat, and fibre; disease resistance; heat tolerance; and fecundity. Indian goats make up 20% of the world's goat population, but there has been no extensive study of these economically important animals. Therefore, we have undertaken the present investigation of 363 goats belonging to 10 different breeds from different geographic regions of India using mtDNA sequence data from the HVRI region. We find evidence for population structure and novel lineages in Indian goats and cannot reconcile the genetic diversity found within the major lineage with domestication starting 10,000 years ago from a single mtDNA ancestor. Thus, we propose a more complex origin for domestic goats.