Analysis of the PPARGC1A gene as a potential marker for productive and reproductive traits in cattle

An association analysis between T19C polymorphism in bovine PPARGC1A and productive and reproductive traits was performed in a population of 620 and 279 Polish Holstein-Friesian cows, respectively. No relationship was found with milk yield and composition. PPARGC1A genotypes had, however, a significant effect on lengths of calving interval and calving to conception interval, and the T allele was demonstrated to have an unfavourable effect on these traits. As the identified associations might result from linkage between the T19C and unknown functional polymorphism, further analysis of the PPARGC1A is necessary to identify the causative gene variation. The first step in searching for new polymorphism was computer analysis of both promoter and 3'UTR gene sequences which resulted in the prediction of binding sites for several transcriptional factors, including CREB.