Variation in Transmembrane Bax Inhibitor Motif 6 (TMBIM6) gene influences heat tolerance levels in eukaryotes. Characterizing genes in different goat breeds would provide valuable insights into animal genetic variation, potential adaptive significance and implications for breeding strategies aimed at improving stress tolerance and overall productivity in goats. Thus, this study characterized Nigerian goat populations by analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from exon 4 to intron 6 of TMBIM6 gene. Genomic DNA of 77 Nigerian goats: Red Sokoto (41), Sahel (16) and West African Dwarf (WAD) (20) from semi-arid, Sahel and humid regions, respectively, were isolated, sequenced and analyzed for number of alleles, allele frequency, heterozygosity (He) and other genetic indices. Fifteen SNPs (8, 5 and 2 for Sahel, WAD and Red Sokoto, respectively) were characterized. Allele frequencies of the SNPs ranged from 0.89 in the Sahel and WAD breeds to 0.63 in the Sahel breed. SNPs at exon 5 (11857A>G) in Sahel and intron 6 (12221C>T) in Red Sokoto had the highest He (0.47), while the lowest (0.20) for intron 4 (11714C>G) and exon 6 (12134G>A) in WAD and Red Sokoto, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that WAD and Sahel goats remained more closely related. This first genetic study at exon 4 to intron 6 of TMBIM6 gene in Nigerian goats has preliminarily established that Nigerian goat breeds are highly diverse. Further research is needed to establish links between identified SNPs and heat tolerance in goats.

genetic diversity, TMBIM6 gene, phylogenetic relationship, SNPs, goat

Published by University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, Zagreb, CROATIA
Sponsored by Ministry Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia