Identification and characterization of variants in the 5' flanking region of bovine growth hormone gene

Abstract

Sequence variations within the 5' flanking region of bovine growth hormone gene were identified from six bovine species raised in China. Cloned and sequenced amplified fragments revealed difference in length because of the insertion and deletion mutation. A total of thirty one variation sites were identified in this region within species and among species. Several new single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within bovine species were detected in the 5' flanking region with exception in swamp buffalo. Some important regulatory elements such as TATA box, CRE, NRE3, dPit1 and pPit1 were identified in the 5' flanking in six bovine species. The conservation of regulatory elements may be consistent with functional constraint during the course of evolution.

Key words: Bovine species, growth hormone gene, variation, regulatory element.