A missense mutation in the bovine leptin gene in Iranian Taleshi cattle

Candidate gene approaches facilitate discovering and localizing causative genes for quantitative traits and polymorphisms within selected candidate genes can be tested for association with variationin the quantitative trait (Campbell et al., 2003). Leptin is a 16-kDa protein that is synthesized and secreted predominantly by white adipocytes tissue and its expression is regulated by body fatness and energy balance. Leptin gene expressed in a variety of tissues including adipose tissue, placenta, mammary glands, skeletal muscles, gastric mucosa, brain and pituitary glands. In cattle, the leptin gene is located on chromosome 4 and consists of three exons. Several studies shown the association between polymorphism at the leptin gene and feed intake, energy balance, fertility and immune functions. It has been shown that leptin gene influences milk performance in cattle and reproduction in beef cattle(Liefers et al., 2002). Buchanan et al. (2002) described a cytosine (C) to thymine (T) substitution in exon 2 of the leptin gene of the B. taurus breeds, suggesting the existence CC, TT and CT genotypes. The aim of this study was to identify the single nucleotide polymorphism of exon 2 in Iranian Taleshi cattle.