Polymorphism of the KAP1.3 and KRT33A genes in the Swakara sheep of Namibia

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine polymorphism in the KAP1.3 and KRT33A genes of Swakara sheep. Blood samples were collected from 40 Swakara sheep randomly selected from four farms; Neudamm, Gellap-Ost, Kalahari and Tsumis. Genomic Deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated using the Inqaba biotech-kit protocol. PCR-Single strand conformational polymorphism gel electrophoresis method was used to genotype the two genes. The PCR products were sequenced to construct phylogenetic trees for evolutionary analyses. Chi-square test at 5% level of significance was used to analyze the data. Three genotypes were identified at KAP1.3 gene, with genotype frequencies of 0.5 (AA), 0.35 (AB) and 0.15 (CC). The frequency distribution of genotypes across all four farms differ significantly (P=0.05). Two genotypes (AA and BB) of the KRT33A gene were identified. The KRT33A locus was not statistically significant (P=0.118), and the allele frequency was 0.25 (A) and 0.75 (B). The KAP1.3 and KRT33A genes showed no significant deviation from the Hardy Weinberg Equilibrium. Phylogenetic tree showed relatedness of the Swakara sheep found in Namibia. The revealed polymorphism in the KAP1.3 and KRT33A may prompt further studies on KAP genes in Swakara sheep, which may help with the identification of genetic markers linked to superior pelts and strategic selection of breeding stock.