Identification of the new polymorphisms in the promoter region of the CAST gene in cattle

Calpastatin (CAST) is a specific inhibitor of the ubiquitous calcium-dependent proteases – μ-calpain and m-calpain. This proteolytic system plays a key role in the tenderization process that occurs during postmortem storage of meat under refrigerated conditions. In the present study using comparative sequencing seven novel polymorphisms located within P3 promoter region for exon 1u of the bovine CAST gene: −357 (C/G), −556 (G/T), −557 (A/G), −580 (G/C), −750 (T/C), and two InDel at position −890 (A/−) and (GTT/−) at position −353/−351 were found. This region directs the expression of type III calpastatin mRNA, encoding the prototypical calpastatin. The genotype frequencies and haplotypes distribution were studied in 191 bulls belonging to six cattle breeds. All genotypes were distributed according to the HWE test and two major combined haplotypes were identified. The frequency of the haplotype1 varied from 0.45 in Aberdeen Angus to 0.82 in Simmental.