Polymorphism in exon 2 of the BuLA-DRB3 gene in Indian buffalo (Bubalus bubalisvar.indicus) detected by PCR-RFLP

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific to exon 2 of the bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA)-DRB3 gene were used successfully to amplify the equivalent region in 34 Murrah and 36 Surti buffaloes selected at random. The 304 bp amplified product of the DRB3 gene was separately digested withBstγI,HaeIII andRsal enzymes. Digestion withBstγI enzyme did not reveal any polymorphism and all animals showed a single restriction pattern, which corresponded exactly to theBstγI pattern ‘b’ previously described for cattle. Digestion withHaeIII enzyme resulted in five patterns, four of which corresponded to theHaelll patterns previously reported in cattle. The newHaeIII pattern was observed in both the breeds of buffaloes studied. The fragment analysis withRsaI revealed 13 different patterns. All of theseRsaI patterns corresponded to theRsaI patterns previously described for cattle. The high degree of similarity in the restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) patterns of cattle and buffalo observed in the present study provide evidence for the strong conservation amongst other bovine species, of restriction sites previously reported in cattle.