Two novel linkage SNPs of VLDLR gene intron 11 are associated with laying traits in two quail populations

• Published in: Archiv für Tierzucht Vol. 58; no. 1; pp. 1 - 6
• Main Authors: Wu, Y, Pi, J. S, Pan, A. L, Du, J. P, Shen, J, Pu, Y. J, Liang, Z. H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; German
• Published: Gottingen Copernicus GmbH 04.03.2015; Copernicus Publications
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Annealing; Behavior; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Equilibrium; Feathers; Gene polymorphism; Genetic aspects; Genotype & phenotype; Low density lipoprotein; Low density lipoprotein receptors; Mutation; Polymerase chain reaction; Polymorphism; Population; Population studies; Populations; Poultry; Psychological aspects; Quails; Receptor density; Receptors; Restriction fragment length polymorphism; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Weight; United States > US; China
• ISSN: 2363-9822; 0003-9438; 2363-9822
• DOI: 10.5194/aab-58-1-2015

The very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLR) is an important multifunctional receptor and plays a key role in chicken reproduction. This study is designed to investigate the effect of variants in the VLDLR gene on quail laying traits. Two quail populations were studied – yellow feather quail and chestnut feather quail; 384 individuals per breed were used. The laying traits (the weight of the first egg, the age of the first egg, egg weight, the weight of 20-week-old and the egg number of 20-week-old) were measured and recorded. The polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was developed to genotype those individuals. The results showed two novel polymorphisms, i.e. two linkage variations in intron 11 of the VLDLR gene (363T > C and 392C > T). They are associated with the weight of the first egg, the age of the first egg and egg number of 20-week-old in yellow feather and chestnut feather quail. The two variations in intron 11 of VLDLR may be linked with potential major loci or genes affecting some laying traits.