Analysis of a sequence nucleotide polymorphism of STAT5A gene in Garganica goat breed

STATs (signal transducer and activator of transcription) are a group of transcription factors that mediate actions of a variety of peptide hormones and cytokines within target cells (for example prolactin and growth hormone). In particular, STAT5A gene is a candidate marker for quantitative traits in farm animals. In this study, the STAT5A/Eco81I polymorphism was investigated with PCR-RFLP in a sample of Garganica goats. Garganica breed is an Italian goat breed that originates in the Gargano promontory, in Apulia region, by crossing the autochthonous population of goat with west European goats. Garganica breed show an exceptional ability to adapt to particularly difficult environments, as well as an extraordinary capacity to utilize poor pasture that would not otherwise be used. The investigated polymorphism is a substitution C→T at position 6852 within the exon 7 of the STAT5A gene. Only two out of three possible genotypes were identified in the population. The allelic frequencies of alleles C and T were 0.863 and 0.137 respectively and the population was kept in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Moreover, some population genetic indices were also reported.