Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 9, 2026
Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)
Published on: November 4, 2016
Sequence analysis of the NRAMP1 genes from different bovine and buffalo breeds
Gene P Ables1, Masahide Nishibori, Misao Kanemaki
1Laboratory of Experimental Animal Science, Department of Disease Control, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
The natural resistance associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp1) has been reported to confer resistance or susceptibility to Mycobacterium bovis, Salmonella typhimurium, and Leishmania donovani in the mouse, Mus musculus. A Gly and Asp substitution at position 169 of the mouse Nramp protein is invariably associated with the resistant and susceptible phenotypes, respectively. The present study aimed to detect polymorphisms in the NRAMP1 gene from different cattle and buffalo breeds. Genomic DNAs from five breeds of cattle and four breeds of buffalo were used in the study. Sequencing showed two nucleotide substitutions found in intron 4, three in exon V, and ten in intron 5. An amino acid substitution was observed at nucleotide position 1202 in exon V of the Japanese black, Angus, Philippine and Bangladesh swamp-type buffaloes which coded for Thr, while the Korean cattle, Holstein, African N'dama, Indonesian swamp-type buffalo and the Bangladesh river-type buffalo had Ile. All the breeds of cattle and buffaloes tested in this study coded for Gly at the position in exon VI which corresponds to the same amino acid of the murine Nramp1-resistant phenotype at position 169. The phylogenetic relationship among the different breeds showed a cluster comprised mainly of cattle and another one mainly of buffaloes.
Insights
The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene shows variations in cattle and buffalo breeds. These polymorphisms, particularly an amino acid substitution in exon V, may influence disease resistance in livestock.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Immunology
- Veterinary Science
Background:
- The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) gene plays a crucial role in innate immunity.
- Specific NRAMP1 polymorphisms in mice are linked to resistance/susceptibility against pathogens like Mycobacterium bovis and Salmonella typhimurium.
- A Gly/Asp substitution at position 169 in mouse Nramp protein differentiates resistant and susceptible phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate polymorphisms in the NRAMP1 gene across various cattle and buffalo breeds.
- To identify potential genetic variations associated with disease resistance in livestock.
Main Methods:
- Genomic DNA extraction from five cattle and four buffalo breeds.
- DNA sequencing to detect nucleotide substitutions in NRAMP1 gene introns and exons.
- Amino acid analysis to identify variations at specific protein positions.
Main Results:
- Identified nucleotide substitutions in introns 4 and 5, and exon V of the NRAMP1 gene.
- Observed an amino acid substitution (Thr/Ile) at position 1202 in exon V in certain buffalo and cattle breeds.
- All tested cattle and buffalo breeds exhibited Gly at the position corresponding to the mouse NRAMP1-resistant phenotype (position 169 in exon VI).
- Phylogenetic analysis revealed distinct clustering of cattle and buffalo breeds.
Conclusions:
- The study identified novel NRAMP1 gene polymorphisms in cattle and buffaloes.
- A specific amino acid substitution in exon V (Thr/Ile) was found in certain breeds, potentially impacting disease resistance.
- Further research is needed to correlate these NRAMP1 variations with actual disease resistance phenotypes in livestock.
