Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Length difference between equine ZFX and ZFY genes and its application for molecular sex determination

  • Genetics
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

We analyzed the sex chromosome-encoding ZFX-ZFY genes and tested molecular sexing using the amplification patterns of intron 9 of ZFX-ZFY in the horse.

Methods and results

The amplification of the ZFX-ZFY produced two distinct patterns, reflecting sexual dimorphism based on a length difference between the X and Y chromosomes. The amplification products from foals showed two distinct bands: one was common to all foals and mares, indicating that this band was amplified from ZFX, while the other was specific to some foals, indicating that it was from ZFY. The result based on the PCR assay was identical to the results of amplification of the Y chromosome-specific SRY gene and those of investigations of the phenotypic gender in three different horse populations.

Conclusion

We suggest that this PCR strategy for determining sexes by comparing the amplification patterns of ZFX-ZFY genes is a convenient and precise method for discriminating sexes in horses.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

References

  1. Angelo M, Moreira M. SRY evolution in Cebidae (Platyrrhini: Primates). J Mol Evol. 2002;55:92–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Sinclair AH, Berta P, Palmer MS, Hawkins JR, Griffiths BL, Smith MJ, et al. A gene from the human sex-determining region Y encodes a protein with a homology to a conserved DNA-binding motif. Nature. 1990;346:240–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Koopman P, Gubbay J, Vivian N, Goodfellow P, Lovell-Badge R. Male development of chromosomally female mice transgenic for SRY. Nature. 1991;351:117–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Agulnik AI, Bishop CE, Lerner JL, Agulnik SI, Solovyev VV. Analysis of mutation rates in the SMCY/SMCX genes shows that mammalian evolution is male driven. Mamm Genome. 1997;8:134–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Senese C, Penedo MCT, Shiue Y, Bowling AT, Millon LV. A HaeIII PCR-RFLP in the ZFY/ZFX genes of horses. Anim Genet. 1999;30:390–1.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Phua ACY, Abdullah RB, Monamed Z. A PCR-based sex determination method for possible application in caprine gender selection by simultaneous amplification of the Sry and Aml-X genes. J Reprod Dev. 2003;49:307–11.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Dreesen CJFM, Dumoulin JCM, Evers JLH, Geraedts JPM, Pieters MHEC. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for sex determination of single mouse blastomeres. Mol Human Reprod. 1995;10:743–8.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Shea BF. Determining the sex of bovine embryos using polymerase chain reaction results: a six-year retrospective study. Theriogenology. 1999;51:841–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Lawson LJ, Hewitt GM. Comparison of substitution rates in ZFX and ZFY introns of sheep and goat related species supports the hypothesis of male-biased mutation rates. J Mol Evol. 2002;54:54–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Alves BC, Hossepian de Lima VF, Teixeira CM, Moreira-Filho CA. Use of primers derived from a new sequence of the bovine Y chromosome for sexing Bos taurus and Bos indicus embryos. Theriogenology. 2003;59:1415–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Horng YM, Huang MC. Male-specific DNA sequences in pigs. Theriogenology. 2003;59:841–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cho IC, Kang SY, Lee SS, Choi YL, Ko MS, Oh MY, et al. Molecular sexing using SRY and ZF genes in pigs. J Anim Sci Technol. 2005;47:317–24.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Poloumienko A. Cloning and comparative analysis of bovine, porcine, equine sex chromosome genes ZFX and ZFY. Genome. 2004;47:74–83.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Hasegawa T, Ishida M, Harigaya T, Sato F, Ishida N, Mukoyama H. Linear SRY transcript in equine testis. J Vet Med Sci. 1999;61:97–100.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Erlandsson R, Wilson JF, Pääbo S. Sex chromosomal transposable element accumulation and male-driven substitutional evolution in humans. Mol Biol Evol. 2000;17(5):804–12.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Hasegawa T, Sato F, Ishida N, Fukushima Y, Mukoyama H. Sex determination by simultaneous amplification of equine SRY and amelogenin genes. J Vet Med Sci. 2000;62:1109–10.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgement

This study was supported by Post Doctoral Course Program of National Institute of Animal Science, Rural Development Administration, Republic of Korea.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Educational Science Research Institute, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, South Korea

    Sang-Hyun Han

  2. Mirae Biotech. Co./Jeju National University Stem Cell Research Center, Seoul, 143-854, South Korea

    Sang-Hyun Han

  3. National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Suwon, 441-350, South Korea

    Byoung-Chul Yang

  4. National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Jeju Sub-station, Jeju, 690-150, South Korea

    Moon-Suck Ko & Sung-Soo Lee

  5. Department of Science Education, Jeju National University, Jeju, 690-756, South Korea

    Hong-Shik Oh

Authors
  1. Sang-Hyun Han
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Byoung-Chul Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Moon-Suck Ko
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Hong-Shik Oh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Sung-Soo Lee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sung-Soo Lee.

Additional information

Capsule

Length difference was found in PCR amplification products between equine ZFX and ZFY genes. This sexual dimorphism may be a diagnostic molecular marker for determining the sexes in the horse.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Han, SH., Yang, BC., Ko, MS. et al. Length difference between equine ZFX and ZFY genes and its application for molecular sex determination. J Assist Reprod Genet 27, 725–728 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9467-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-010-9467-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation