Author
 |
ASHWELL, MELISSA |
|
Submitted to: Germplasm Release
Publication Type: Germplasm Release Publication Acceptance Date: 4/16/1998 Publication Date: N/A Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The bovine mammary gland is composed of highly active cells during lactation, producing large quantities of milk. Although much research has been conducted to study the function of the udder, much is still unknown about the genes expressed or repressed during the lactation period. To study the genes actively transcribed during lactation, a non-normalized cDNA library was constructed from the udder of a cow 78 days into her first lactation. The library was probed with 6 of the major milk protein genes in order to select clones that uniquely contained non-milk protein gene inserts. Approximately 350 clones were selected and screened for kappa-casein and beta-casein using the polymerase chain reaction to ensure clones did not contain these known and prolific genes. Sequencing was completed in at least one direction for 194 clones. Forty-three sequences were unique to the bovine genome. Sequencing was repeated for 24 clones to confirm the sequences. These sequences have been submitted to GenBank. Eighteen sequences were similar to other sequences found in GenBank; some were known genes and others were expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from other species. These genes may be important in maintaining lactation and may one day be manipulated to lengthen the lactation period or produce designer milk of different compositions. |
