Variation in the Promoter Region of the MC4R Gene Elucidates the Association of Body Measurement Traits in Hu Sheep.

ABSTRACT: The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) gene is expressed in the appetite-regulating areas of the brain and is engaged in the leptin signaling pathway. Although previous studies have identified variants in the coding region of the sheep MC4R gene showing significant associations with birth weight, weaning weight, and backfat thickness, no such associations have been reported for the promoter region. Besides, the essential promoter region of the sheep MC4R has not been delineated. In this study, to better understand the transcriptional regulation of MC4R and to elucidate the association between regulatory variants and haplotypes with body measurement traits in sheep, we cloned and characterized the MC4R promoter. We found that the minimal promoter of the gene i

SUBMITTER: Shishay G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6358852 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature