There is evidence that variation in the calpastatin gene exists among breeds of cattle. It has
been suggested that such variation contributes to differences in muscle growth and postmortem
conditioning of meat. The objective of this work was to determine if variation also exists in the
calpastatin gene of sheep. Digestion of sheep DNA with BamHI restriction endonuclease, gave
identifiable bands when probed with a bovine calpastatin cDNA probe. Reproducible variation,
similar to that reported for cattle genomic DNA was detected in the banding pattern among
breeds of sheep.
Further variation in the ovine calpastatin gene was identified using primers designed to the
bovine calpastatin gene and optimised PCR-SSCP conditions. In the breeds examined, two
alleles, inherited in a Mendelian fashion were discovered by examination of small families.
Either of the techniques used to detect variation/polymorphism in the calpastatin gene in these
studies, may be further examined for its linkage to meat tenderness. Ultimately this may lead to
the selection for reduced calpastatin activity to enhance meat quality by increasing meat
tenderness.[Show full abstract]
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