Indian Journal of Animal Research

  • Chief EditorK.M.L. Pathak

  • Print ISSN 0367-6722

  • Online ISSN 0976-0555

  • NAAS Rating 6.50

  • SJR 0.263

  • Impact Factor 0.4 (2024)

Frequency :
Monthly (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December)
Indexing Services :
Science Citation Index Expanded, BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Scopus, AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Indian Journal of Animal Research, volume 55 issue 1 (january 2021) : 1-5

Association Study of Polymorphic Varients of Beta (B) Casein Gene with Milk Production Traits (Lactose, Snf and Density) in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. Cross Breeds Cow

Akhilesh Pandey1,*, M.S. Thakur1, Y. Pandey2
1Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482 001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
2Department of VAN, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur-482 001, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Cite article:- Pandey Akhilesh, Thakur M.S., Pandey Y. (2020). Association Study of Polymorphic Varients of Beta (B) Casein Gene with Milk Production Traits (Lactose, Snf and Density) in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. Cross Breeds Cow . Indian Journal of Animal Research. 55(1): 1-5. doi: 10.18805/IJAR.B-3896.
Background: The most frequently observed forms of beta casein (β-Cn) in dairy cattle are A1 and A2. A2 β-Cn is recognized as the original β-Cn protein because it existed before a mutation caused the appearance of A1 β-Cn in European cattle (Bos taurus) a few thousand years ago. In cattle, beta-casein (CSN2) gene is highly polymorphic with at least 13 genetic variants known until now.

Methods: Research work was carried out on 50 Malvi and 50 Nimari, 50 Sahiwal and 50 H F Cross bred cow. In present research work the PCR amplicons of 121bp were digested by restriction endonuclease enzyme DdeI, which recognizes G^AATTC sites. Present association study of polymorphic variants’ showed that the presence of no restriction sites for the enzyme DdeI in both Malvi and Nimari. So one band of 121bp was observed on the gel and such genotype was designated as A2A2 type. Whereas in Sahiwal and H F Crossbred showed two type of genotypes A1A2 and A2A2.

Result: The result of RFLP revealed that the gene and genotypic frequencies of β-casein (CSN2) gene for A2A2 was 1.00 for both Malvi and Nimari breed of cattle but 0.00, 0.30 and 0.70 in Sahiwal and 0.00, 0.64 and 0.36 in HF crossbred cattle, respectively. Association study showed that the lactose per cent was significantly higher in Nimari as compared to Malvi and Sahiwal. Among all the four breeds of cattle, significantly lower SNF (%) and density was noticed in Malvi breed of cattle for A2A2 genotype compared to remaining three breeds.
The most frequently observed forms of β-Cn in dairy cattle are A1 and A2. A2 β-Cn is recognized as the original β-Cn protein because it existed before a mutation caused the appearance of A1 β-Cn in European cattle (Bos taurus) a few thousand years ago. In cattle, beta-casein (CSN2) gene is highly polymorphic with at least 13 genetic variants known until now (Farrel et al., 2004). Study of the β-casein polymorphism at the protein level showed that A1 and A2 variants’ are most frequently noticed compared to others (e.g. B, A3, C). Genetic variants of the beta-casein milk protein differ by only one amino acid. The A1 beta-casein type is the most common type found in cow’s milk in Europe (excluding France), USA, Australia and New Zealand. A genetic test, developed by the A2 Milk Company, determines whether a cow produces A2 or A1 type of protein in its milk.
       
A1 beta-casein (β-Cn) in milk has been found to be associated with range of illnesses in human being including type 1 diabetes mellitus, autism, cancer and other immune suppression activities (Bell et al., 2006 and Truswell, 2005). At the same time presence of A2 has been reported to be associated with reduced serum cholesterol and decrease concentration of low density lipoprotein which play an important role in prevention of a wide range of human vascular diseases (Ikonen et al., 2001). Variants of casein genes have also been reported to be associated with milk yield and composition (Cardak, 2005 and Mir et al., 2014). Sodhi et al., (2012) studied 91 exotic (51 Holstein Friesian, 40 Jersey) and 89 crossbred bulls approved for genetic improvement programme. They reported the presence of desirable A2 allele across all cattle types with a mean frequency of 0.65. The genotype, A1A2 was more common in Holstein Friesian and Jersey while A2A2 was at higher frequency in the crossbreds. The results of association studies of the different genotype with different milk trait provide the guideline to the breeder in selection. Shende et al., (2017) observed that the gene frequencies of A1 and A2 genes are 0.64 and 0.36, respectively in HF cattle. The genotype frequency of A1A1 genotype was 0.28 and that of A1A2 genotype was 0.72. They reported that Milk yield (kg) 2719.24±41 in A1A1, 2769.12±35.51 in A1A2 whereas the Fat % 3.61+0.05 in A1A1 and 3.67+0.04 in A1A2 was noticed. So the findings of my work will helpful to the breeders for selection of high quality milk traits animals as per the need.
The present research work was conducted on 200 lactating cows comprising 50 each of Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cow. The data was collected from the animals maintained as per the following Table 1.
 

Table 1: Details of experimental samples collection.


       
Identification number along with the various desired parameters of each animal under study, were recorded. About 100ml milk sample from each cow was collected in the sterilized tube and mixed with 0.8% formalin and then 5 ml blood sample was collected from same cow in EDTA coated test tube. The collected samples are maintained in cold chain during transportation and in laboratory. In first phase of research the milk samples are processed for estimation of Lactose, SNF and Density of the milk by Milk analyzer machine College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Jabalpur.
       
In second part of experiment the blood samples are processed for genomic DNA isolation by John et al., (1991) method. The β casein gene primers were used for the amplification of PCR product as described in following Table 2.
 

Table 2: Published Primer.


       
Digested PCR products were analyzed on 2.0% agarose gel (5 µl of PCR product mixed with 1 µl of gel loading dye). The electrophoresis at constant voltage of 90 volt for 50 minutes at 37°C using 0.5X TBE buffer was conducted. The mass ruler DNA ladder (100 bp- 1000 bp) as a molecular size marker was used for sizing of the DNA bands.
       
Gene and genotype frequencies for different casein genes under study were estimated using Popgene 32 (version1.32), microsoft Windows-based freeware for population genetic analysis (Yeh et al., 1999). Association study of  various polymorphic variants of milk protein genes Lactose (%), SNF (%) and Milk density (Kg/L) data were subjected to least squares analysis of variance employing linear model: to least squares analysis of variance employing following linear model:

Yijkl = µ + Pi +Bj+Gk+(PXB)ij+(PXG)ik+(BXG)jk+ (PXBX G)ijk+ eijkl
Yijkl = µ + Pi + Bj+Gk+(PXB)ij +(PXG)ik+ (BXG)jk+ (PXBXG)ijk+ eijkl

Where,
Yijkl   -     is the observed value of milk yield
µ        -     is the population mean
Pi       -     is the fixed effect of parity
Bj       -     is the fixed effect of breed
Gk     -     is fixed effect of genotypes (k = 1, 2….)
(PXB)ij-    is interaction effect of parity and breed.
(PXG)ik- is interaction effect of parity and genotypes.
(BXG)jk- is interaction effect of breed and genotypes.
(PXBXG)ijk- is interaction effect of parity, breed and genotypes.
eijkl- is  random error effect.

The chi-square test (c2) was employed to test the status of Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in the different population of four breeds of cattle (Snedecor and Cochran, 1994).
Allelic and genotypic frequencies were estimated using Popgene 32 (version1.32), microsoft Windows-based freeware for population genetic analysis and the population was tested for genetic equilibrium at this locus. The tested populations of Malvi (50), Nimari (50) are monomorphic, whereas Sahiwal (50) and H.F. cross bred (50) cattle at the β -casein gene (CSN2) locus were found to be polymorphic. Only A2A2 genotypes was found in all animals of Malvi and Nimari but Sahiwal and HF crossbred showed both A2A2 and A1A2 genotype. No A1A1 genotype was recorded in any of the four cattle breeds. Chi-square values between observed and expected genotypic frequencies at this locus were found to be non-significant in Malvi, Nimari and Sahiwal breeds of cattle, indicating that the populations of these animals under study were in HWE at β-Casein (CSN2)/DdeI gene locus, while Chi-square value was found to be significant (P<0.01) for H.F. cross bred cattle revealed that Hardy Weinberg disequilibrium at the locus for this population under study.
 
Association studied of different genotypes with the following milk productive traits
 
Lactose (%) of different variants at β-Casein (CSN2)/ DdeI gene locus in four breeds of cattle
 
The results of analysis of variance have been presented in Table 5. The effect of genotypes was found significant (P<0.01) for lactose.
 

Table 5: Least squares analysis of variance for lactose (%) at â- casein (CSN2) gene locus in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. crossbred cattle.


       
The mean lactose (%) in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and HF crossbred cattle has been presented in Table 1. The mean milk lactose per cent for A2A2 genotype was ranged from 4.89±0.07 (Malvi) to 5.56±0.07 (Nimari) and for A1A2 genotype it was ranged from 5.19±0.13 (Sahiwal) to 5.33±0.09 (H.F. cross bred) among all the four breeds of cattle. Among A2A2 genotyped animals, the lactose per cent was significantly higher in Nimari (5.56±0.07) as compared to Malvi and Sahiwal; while this mean difference was found non-significant with A2A2 genotyped H.F. cross bred cattle (Table 6).
 

Table 6: Least squares means for lactose (%) of different variants at â-casein (CSN2) gene locus in four breeds of cattle.


 
SNF (%) of different variants at β-Casein (CSN2)/ DdeI gene locus in four breeds of cattle
 
The results of analysis of variance have been presented in Table 7. The effect of genotypes was found significant (P<0.01) for SNF per cent trait. The mean SNF (%) in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and HF crossbred cattle has been presented in Table 8.
 

Table 7: Least squares analysis of variance for SNF (%) at â- casein (CSN2) gene locus in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. crossbred cattle.


 

Table 8: Least squares means for SNF (%) of different variants at â-casein (CSN2) gene locus in four breeds of cattle.


 
As shown in Table 3, the mean SNF (%) in A2A2 genotype of Malvi and Nimari was 8.03±0.11 and 8.84±0.13, respectively. The corresponding mean SNF(%) for A1A2 and A2A2 genotypes was 8.69±0.23 and 8.76±0.14 in Sahiwal and 8.55±0.11 and 8.51±0.14 in H.F. crossbred cattle. The mean SNF(%) between A1A2 and A2A2 genotype of Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle did not differ significantly. Among all the four breeds of cattle, significantly lower SNF (%) was noticed in Malvi breed of cattle for A2A2 genotype (Table 8).
 

Table 3: Duration of thermo cycler for following standardized reaction programme.


 
 
Density (kg/L) of different variants at β-Casein (CSN2)/ DdeI gene locus in four breeds of cattle
 
The results of analysis of variance have been presented in Table 9. The effect of genotypes was found significant (P<0.01) for density (kg/L) trait. The mean density (kg/L) in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle has been presented in Table 10.
 

Table 9: Least squares analysis of variance for density (kg/L) at â- casein (CSN2) gene locus in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle.


 

Table 10: Least squares means for density (kg/L) of different variants at â-casein (CSN2) gene locus in four breeds of cattle.



Plate 1: RFLP product of Beta (â) gene of Malvi cow, electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel, M : 100bp DNA ladder, Lanes : 1-12.



Plate 2: RFLP product of Beta (â) gene of Nimari cow, electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel, M : 100bp DNA ladder, Lanes : 1-12.



Plate 3: RFLP product of Beta (â) gene of H.F. cross bred cow, electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel, M : 100bp DNA ladder, Lanes : 1-12.



Plate 4: RFLP product of Beta (â) gene of Sahiwal cow, electrophoresed on 2.5% agarose gel, M : 100bp DNA ladder, Lanes : 1-14.


       
The mean milk density (kg/L) for A1A2 genotype was ranged from 1.03±0.08 (Sahiwal) to 1.04±0.05 (H.F. cross bred) and for A2A2 genotype it was ranged from 1.03±0.07 (Malvi) to 1.05±0.06 (Nimari) among all the four breeds of cattle. Among all the genotypes, the higher milk density (kg/L) was noticed in A2A2 genotype of Nimari (1.05±0.06) cattle; whereas, it was significantly lower in A2A2 genotype of Malvi (1.03±0.07) breed of cattle (Table 10).
 
Photograph of RFLP of following 04 breeds
 
As per the Hardy- Weinberg law the result of RFLP revealed that the gene and genotypic frequencies of β-casein (CSN2) gene for A2A2 was 1.00 for both Malvi and Nimari breed of cattle but 0.00, 0.30 and 0.70 in Sahiwal and 0.00, 0.64 and 0.36 in HF crossbred cattle, respectively.
       
The mean lactose per cent was significantly higher in Nimari (5.56±0.07) as compared to Malvi (5.89±0.06) and Sahiwal (5.25±0.07). However, the mean lactose per cent in milk of Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle showed non-significant difference (Table 2). Available literature did not reveal any traceable information on association of polymorphic variants with lactose per cent in dairy cattle.
       
The mean SNF per cent in Malvi, Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle were found to be 8.03±0.11, 8.84±0.13, 8.74±0.12 and 8.54±0.08 per cent, respectively. The mean SNF per cent of Malvi was significantly lower than Nimari, Sahiwal and H.F. cross bred cattle. The maximum SNF per cent was noticed in Nimari breed of cattle (Table 4). Our findings agree with the results of Szymanowska et al., (2004) who reported higher lactose (%) and SNF (%) for AA genotyped Polish Black and White cattle.
               
The mean density (Kg/L) was significantly higher in Nimari (1.04±0.09) as compared to Sahiwal and Malvi, while it was non-significantly higher than H.F. cross bred cattle (Table 6). Available literature did not reveal any traceable information on association of polymorphic variants with milk density (Kg/L) in dairy cattle.
Authors are thankful to our esteemed university NDVSU, Jabalpur (M.P.) for providing necessary facilities during entire research work. The Instructional Livestock Farm Complex, College of Veterinary Science and A.H., Jabalpur Cattle breeding farm Khargon and Aagar of M.P are gratefully acknowledged for providing help during sample and data collection.

  1. Bell, J.S., Gregory, T.G. and Andrew, J.C. (2006). Health implications of milk containing β-Casein with the A2 genetic variant. Food Sciences and Nutrition. 46: 93-100.

  2. Cardak, A.D. (2005). Effects of genetic variants in milk protein on yield and composition of milk from Holstein-Friesian and Simmentaler cows. South African Journal of Animal Science. 35 (1): 41-47.

  3. Farrel, H.M.R, Jimenez, F., Bleck, G.T., Brown, E.M., Butler, J.E. and Creamer, L.K. (2004). Nomenclature of the proteins of cows’ milk - sixth revision. Journal of Dairy Sciences, 87: 1641-1674.

  4. Ikonen, T., Bovenhuis, H., Ojala, M., Ruottinen, O. and Georges, M. (2001). Associations between casein haplotypes and first lactation milk production traits in Finnish Ayrshire cows. Journal of Dairy Science. 84: 507-514.

  5. John, S.W., Weitzner, G., Rozen, R. and Scriver, C.R. (1991). A rapid procedure for extracting genomic DNA from leukocytes. Nucleic Acid Research. 19 (2): 408.

  6. Mir, N.S., Ullah, O. and Sheikh, R. (2014). Genetic polymorphism of milk protein variants and their association studies with milk yield in Sahiwal cattle. African Journal of Biotechnology. 13 (4): 555-565.

  7. Sodhi, M., Manishi, M., Ranjit, S.K., Mishra., B.P. and Balwinder, K. (2012). Milk proteins and human health: A1/A2 milk hypothesis. Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism. 16(5): 856.

  8. Shende, T.C., Kulkarni, P.S. and Pawar, P.C. (2017). Genotyping of HF crossbred cattle for β-casein genes using PCR-RFLP. Indian Research Journal of Extension Education (special issue on Veterinary Research and Extension). 17: 105-107.

  9. Snedecor, G.W. and Cochran, W.G. (1994). Statistical method. 8th edn. The lowa State College Press, Inc. Amer. lowa USA. 950p.

  10. Szymanowsky, M., Eulalia, S., Marek, L. and Lech, Z. (2004). Association of nucleotide-sequence polymorphism in the 5’-flanking regions of bovine casein genes with casein content in cow’s milk. INRAEDP Sciences. 84: 579-590.

  11. Truswell, A.S. (2005). The A2 milk case. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 59: 623-631.

  12. Yeh, F.C., Yang, R.C., Boyle, T.B.J., Ye, Z.H. and Mao, J.X. (1999). Popgene 32 version 1.32, the user-friendly shareware for population genetic analysis. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Centre, University of Alberta, Canada.

Editorial Board

View all (0)