Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Some Turkish Donkey Populations.
Authors: Işık Raziye, Özdil Fulya
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Leptin Receptor Gene Polymorphism in Turkish Donkeys Leptin receptor (LEPR) regulates critical physiological pathways including appetite, energy metabolism, immune competence and reproductive function, making genetic variation in this gene potentially significant for donkey health and productivity. Researchers sequenced a 585 bp segment spanning exons 7–8 and surrounding intron regions of the LEPR gene in 60 Thracian donkeys, identifying a previously unreported A>G single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) at position g.713668 within exon 7. Although this transition mutation proved silent at the amino acid level (both CAA and CAG code for glutamine), silent mutations can nevertheless alter messenger RNA secondary structure and protein expression levels through effects on translation efficiency and mRNA stability. The novel SNP and partial LEPR sequences have now been deposited in the NCBI GenBank database, providing a foundation for future population studies. Given leptin's established roles in reproduction, lactation and metabolic resilience, characterising LEPR genetic variation across donkey breeds warrants further investigation to determine whether specific polymorphisms correlate with economically or clinically relevant traits such as fertility, milk production or metabolic adaptability.
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Practical Takeaways
- •This genetic marker could potentially be used in future breeding programs to select for traits related to energy metabolism and reproduction in donkey populations, though functional validation is needed
- •The characterization of LEPR polymorphisms in donkeys provides a foundation for understanding individual variation in feed efficiency and metabolic health, which may help optimize management strategies
- •Further studies are necessary to establish whether this SNP has practical implications for donkey health or performance traits before incorporating it into selection criteria
Key Findings
- •A novel SNP (g.713668A>G) was identified in exon 7 of the LEPR gene in Turkish donkeys
- •The A>G transition resulted in a silent mutation (CAA-CAG) coding for glutamine amino acid
- •LEPR partial DNA sequences were successfully amplified from a 585 bp region spanning intron 6 through exon 8
- •The identified SNP may influence secondary protein structure and LEPR hormone expression levels despite being a silent mutation