Identification of novel variants of interferon-tau gene in Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana), Pelibuey sheep (Ovis aries) and its expression in hybrid blastocysts (Ovis canadensis × Ovis aries)

Abstract

Palma-Irizarry, M., Damian-Matsumura, P., Betancourt, M., Romo, S., Perales, G., Lagunas-Martinez, A., Madrid-Marina, M. V., Mejia, O. and Ducolomb, Y. 2012. Identification of novel variants of interferon-tau gene in Bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis mexicana), Pelibuey sheep (Ovis aries) and its expression in hybrid blastocysts (Ovis canadensis×Ovis aries). Can. J. Anim. Sci. 92: 275-283. The major signal for maternal recognition of pregnancy (MRP) in ruminants is interferon-tau (IFNT). Four novel sequences of the IFNT gene were isolated from genomic DNA obtained from blood samples of Bighorn, Pelibuey or the hybrid ewes. The deduced amino acid sequence of the hybrid ewe showed 100% identity with one Bighorn sheep IFNT sequence, suggesting that this sequence was inherited from Bighorn sheep. The high degree of identity between Pelibuey and Bighorn sheep sequences could be a possible explanation for the successful MRP in some Bighorn hybrid pregnancies. In vivo and in vitro domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and hy...