Abstract

The complete CDS sequence of the bovine FABGL gene was determined by homology cloning approach combined with RT-PCR and 3'- and 5'-RACE. The results of sequence analysis and bioinformatics study showed that this cDNA contained 994 nucleotides, with a 780 bp open reading frame (ORF) flanked by a 16 bp 5'-UTR (incompletely) and a 198 bp 3'-UTR. The deduced amino acid sequence (260 AA) shows 88% identity with the corresponding sequence in humans. Two single nucleotide substitutions, one located in intron 5 (I5) at position 1 065 bp (Y = C/T) (GenBank: DQ409814) and the other in intron 8 (I8) at position 1 792 bp (R = A/G), were detected using the PCR-SSCP method. Analysis of the allele frequencies of the two polymorphic sites in three different cattle breeds (Angus, Hereford, and Simmental) with different genotypes showed large differences: in locus I8, cattle with the GG genotype showed higher beef performance index (BPI) (4.283 +/- 0.475 kg/cm) in comparison with cattle with the AA genotype (4.008 +/- 0.465 kg/cm) (P = 0.01). Regarding the ribeye area, cattle with the GG genotype showed significantly higher ribeye area (73.380 +/- 13.005 cm(2)) compared with cattle with the AA genotype (67.744 +/- 12.777 cm(2)) (p = 0.05). In locus I5, some associations for the average daily gain (ADG) were found at the significance level of 0.01 between three different genotypes (CC, CT, TT): cattle with the TT genotype showed the highest ADG (0.652 +/- 0.330 kg/d), whereas cattle with the CC genotype showed the lowest ADG value (0.421 +/- 0.178 kg/d).