Molecular Study on the Exon 2 Region of the Ovis Bone Morphology Protein 15 (BMP-15) Gene in Iranian Bluchi Sheep Breed by PCR-SSCP Technique

Litter size is one of the most important economical traits in sheep breeding industry. In addition to minor genes, litter size is under the influence of major genes. Bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP-15), a mem-ber of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B) superfamily, which is specifically expressed in oocytes, plays a dramatic role in sheep prolificacy. Reported mutations in this gene cause increased ovulation rate and infertility in a dosage-sensitive manner. Six different point mutations have been indicated in the BMP-15 gene of sheep, each having a major effect on prolificacy. The aim of the current study was to investigate the Lacaune (FecXL) mutation in the prolificacy of the Iranian Baluchi sheep breed. Blood samples were collected in ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) coated tubes from jugular vein and genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood samples. Single nucleotide polymorphism of FecXL loci in BMP-15 gene were determined using polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) tech-nique. No evidence of mutation in FecXL was observed, all of which were monomorphic for exon 2 BMP-15 gene.