A new mutation in exon 2 of the bone morphogenetic protein 15 gene is associated with increase in prolificacy of Mehraban and Lori sheep.

Some mutations in bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) gene have been known to be associated with prolificacy in various breeds of sheep. Polymorphism of BMP15 gene exon 2 was studied in 100 Mehraban and 100 Lori ewes, using PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods. A new point mutation (G → A) was found at position 57 of the amplified 312-b fragment of BMP15 gene exon 2. The frequencies of the AG and GG genotypes were 69.4 and 30.6 % in Mehraban and 44.7 and 55.3 % in Lori ewes, respectively. No individual carrying the AA genotype was found in the studied population. The allelic frequencies for A and G alleles were 34.7 and 65.3 % in Mehraban and 22.4 and 77.6 % in Lori ewes, respectively. Average litter size in the AG genotype (1.56) was significantly (P < 0.01) higher than the GG ewes (1.08). The results of the present study indicated the potential of the observed SNP in exon 2 of BMP15 for further exploitation in marker-assisted selection to improve reproduction efficiency of Mehraban and Lori sheep.