A novel mutation of the GLI2 gene associated with body weight in bovine (Bos taurus) (Brief Report)

Abstract. During pituitary gland development, the actions of transcription factors control the development of the hormone-producing cell types. Defects in transcription factor genes, including PIT1/POU1F1, PROP1, GLI2, HESX1, LHX3, and LHX4, are associated with combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) (SAVAGE et al. 2007). Removal of the mouse GLI2 gene by targeted disruption leads to an embryonic lethal phenotype with defects in early brain and spinal cord development, which include absence of the floor plate (MATISE et al. 1998). At present, no polymorphisms of GLI2 gene have been reported in bovine. In the present paper, partial 5’ flanking region, coding region and partially introns of GLI2 were screened to detect the SNPs in Chinese cattle breeds.