Analysis of Genetic Polymorphisms in Four Marker Sites of PEPCK-C Gene in Different Strains of Chickens

This research was carried out in order to detect the polymorphisms in four sites of PEPCK-C gene by PCR-RFLP method in a commercial layer and broiler strains and breeder hens of Mazandaran native fowls breeding station. Blood samples were collected randomly from 150 birds from a three populations and DNA was extracted using modified salting out method. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and specific primers pairs a region with the length of 3792 bp from position -1723 to exon 4 from PEPCK-C gene was amplified. In RsaI marker site two alleles of A (33%) and B (67%) were detected in Mazandaran native fowls, A (34%), B (66%) in commercial broiler and A (24%) and B (76%) in commercial layer population. Two genotypes of AB and BB were detected with the frequency of 66 and 34% in Mazandaran native fowls 68 and 32% in commercial broiler and 48 and 52% in commercial layer hens. In BstEII marker site two alleles of A (28%) and B (72%) were detected in Mazandaran native fowls population, A (19%), B (81%) in commercial broiler and A (59%) and B (41%) in commercial layer lines. Three genotypes of AA, AB and BB were detected with the frequency of 2, 52 and 46 in Mazandaran native fowls, 2, 34 and 64% in commercial broiler and 42, 34 and 24% commercial layer. In PstI marker site two alleles of A (43%) and B (57%) were detected in Mazandaran native fowls population, A (52%), B (48%) in commercial broiler and A and B (50%) in commercial layer samples. Three genotypes of AA, AB and BB were detected with the frequency of 16, 54 and 30% in Mazandaran native fowls, 18, 68 and 14% in commercial broiler and 6, 88 and 6% in commercial layer population. In BstEII marker site (position to 흍) the results showed that all samples from different strains had the same banding pattern with monomorphic BB genotype. Among 3 observed SNPs 2 were in the promoter site and 1 in intron 2 region. As a result of finding polymorphism in this marker site and also its major effect on production traits such as egg for production, feed conversion ratio and growth rate it can be considered as a candidate gene in detection of QTL related to these traits in poultry industry.