Structural and functional analysis of chicken Calsequestrin 2 gene using RT_PCR and bioinformatics tools

Calsequestrin 2 (CASQ2), as principle intracellular Ca2 buffer, is involved in regulation of Ca release from sarcoplasmic reticulum. In human and animal models, its dysfunction is associated with cardiac arrhythmia and sudden death. Sudden death syndrome (SDS) in broiler chickens is a cardiac disease associated with ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF); however its pathogenesis at molecular levels is not precisely determined. Based on the similarities between clinical aspects of sudden death in human and chickens, we hypothesis that there may be also similar underlying mechanisms. Coding sequence of CASQ2 gene in left ventricle muscle of healthy broiler (Cobb 500), layer (Leghorn) and indigenous chickens was determined by RT-PCR and direct sequencing. Then, sequence, structure and function of the corresponding protein were analyzed using bioinformatics tools. The sequence of chCASQ2 was identical in different chicken breeds and was highly similar to that of human and other species. According to the results, we concluded that CASQ2 can be a suitable candidate molecule for investigation about SDS pathogenesis.