Identification mutation of the CACNA2D1 gene and its effect on somatic cell score in cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the bovine calcium channel, voltage-dependent, alpha-2/delta subunit 1 (CACNA2D1) gene and to evaluate the association of SNPs with mastitis in cattle. Through polymerase chain reaction - single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis and DNA sequencing, a new mutation C367284A was detected in the cattle CACNA2D1 gene. Altogether 240 dairy cattle of three breeds (Holstein, Simmental and Sanhe) were genotyped and allele frequencies were determined. The effects of CACNA2D1 polymorphisms on somatic cell score (SCS) were analysed, and a significant association was found between C367284A and SCS. CC genotype had the lowest SCS. The results of this research will be useful in further studies to determine the role of the CACNA2D1 gene in mastitis resistance, and further work will be necessary to investigate whether the CACNA2D1 gene plays a role in defending the host from mastitis. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.