Molecular characterization and SNP identification in HSPB6 gene in Karan Fries (Bos taurus x Bos indicus) cattle

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) act as molecular chaperones which are preferentially transcribed in response to severe perturbations of the cellular homeostasis such as heat stress. The present study was undertaken for molecular characterization and detection of genetic polymorphisms of HSPB6 gene in 100 Karan Fries Cattle. HSPB6 gene was mapped on Bos taurus autosome 18 (BTA 18), comprising three exons and two introns. Four sets of primers for HSPB6 gene were designed using Primer3 software (version 0.4.0). For detecting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), sequence data was analyzed using BioEdit software (version 7.2). Comparative sequence analysis of HSPB6 gene showed five nucleotide polymorphisms, which included three transitions viz. g.161A > G, g.436G > A and g.2152A > G and two transversions viz. g.1743C > G and g.2417A > T compared to B. taurus (NCBI GenBank: AC_000175.1). HSPB6 gene of Karan Fries cattle exhibited a high percentage of nucleotide identity (47.0-100.0%) with the corresponding mammalian homologue. The present study indicated a high degree of genetic variability in the HSPB6 gene in the Karan Fries cattle populations.