A functional variant in the 5 '-flanking region of the chicken serotonin transporter gene is associated with increased body weight and locomotor activity

作者：Loc Phi van; Holtz Marlis; Kjaer Joergen B; van Phi Valerie D; Zimmermann Katrin

来源：Journal of Neurochemistry, 2014, 131(1): 12-20.

DOI：10.1111/jnc.12799

• 5-HTT
• body weight
• locomotor activity
• Serotonin

In this study, we identified a polymorphism in the 5-flanking region of the chicken serotonin transporter (5-HTT) gene. Sequencing analysis revealed that in comparison with the wild-type variant (W), a deleted variant (D) is generated by deletion of four nucleotides (5-AATT-3) and a single nucleotide change (AT). Using a polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis system, we found that the 360-bp DNA fragment containing the W variant with the wild-type sequence 5-AATTAATT-3 shows intrinsic DNA curvature while the 356-bp fragment containing the D variant lacking the four base pairs AATT is not curved. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR and ELISA demonstrated that the expression of 5-HTT in D/D chickens was higher than that in W/W and W/D chickens. In addition, transient transfection experiments with chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene constructs revealed increased 5-HTT promoter activity mediated by the D variant and a silencer activity of the W variant. Interestingly, females and males with D/D genotype showed significant greater increase in body weight from 6weeks and 16weeks of age, respectively, and higher body mass index. Moreover, we found that D/D chickens of both genders were physically more active than W/W and W/D chickens.

• 出版日期2014-10