Cloning,Molecular Characterization and Tissue Expression Profile of Binglangjiang Buffalo Gene Dmrt7

Purposes As one of the members of Dmrt gene family, Dmrt7 gene affects the spermiogenesis of male animals. So far, few studies have been done related to the genetic basis of buffalo spermiogenesis. In this study, by employed Binglangjiang water buffalo as research object, the complete CDS sequence of water buffalo Dmrt7 gene was cloned, and its sequence characterization, tissue differential expression were assayed and analysed.Methods RT-PCR and functional bioinformatics methods were used.Results The results showed that the CDS of Binglangjiang buffalo Dmrt7 gene is 1113 bp in length, which encodes a polypeptide composed of 370 amino acids. Buffalo Dmrt7 contains two conserved domains, viz. a DM and a DMRT-like domain. This protein was predicted a nuclear protein without signal peptide and transmembrane domain. Homology analysis showed that the amino acid sequence similarity of Dmrt7 between buffalo and other bovine species was more than 95%. Among 10 different tissues of adult buffalo, Dmrt7 gene was detected to only express in the testis of water buffalo, and its expression level was dominantly high. The polymorphism c.665AG was found in exon 6 of CDS of buffalo Dmrt7 gene which leads to a p.Q222R change. But this substitution was presumed to have no functional effect on buffalo Dmrt7 protein.Conclusion The results of this study will provide fundamental insights into the function of buffalo Dmrt7 gene.