The gene encoding the high glycine/tyrosine keratin-associated protein 20-2 (KAP20-2) gene has been described in humans, but has not been identified in any livestock species. A search for similar sequences in the caprine genome using the human KAP20-2 gene (
KRTAP20-2) revealed
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The gene encoding the high glycine/tyrosine keratin-associated protein 20-2 (KAP20-2) gene has been described in humans, but has not been identified in any livestock species. A search for similar sequences in the caprine genome using the human KAP20-2 gene (
KRTAP20-2) revealed a homologous sequence on chromosome 1. Three different banding patterns representing distinct sequences (
A–
C) in Longdong cashmere goats were identified using polymerase chain reaction-single stranded conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. These sequences shared high sequence similarity with the human and mouse
KRTAP20-2 sequences, suggesting that
A–
C are caprine variants of the human and mouse genes. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, and three of them were non-synonymous.
KRTAP20-2 was found to be expressed in secondary hair follicles, but not in heart, liver, lung, kidney, spleen, or
longissimus dorsi muscle. The presence of
A was associated with increased cashmere fibre weight, while the presence of
B was associated with a decrease in cashmere fibre weight and curly fibre length. Goats with genotype
AA had a higher cashmere fibre weight and a higher curly fibre length than those with genotypes
AB or
BB. These results indicate that caprine
KRTAP20-2 variation may have value as a genetic marker for improving cashmere fibre weight.
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