Analisi di un gene candidato per la variabilità del comportamento nel cavallo: catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)

Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is a candidate for the variability of several traits including anxiety, stress response and pain sensibility. The aim of this work was to study COMT gene regions in horse samples (Equus caballus) to check for polymorphisms. DNA samples from 12 horses of different breeds were amplified with two primer pairs and then sequenced on both strands. We analysed about 1000 bp of the gene including exon 4, 5, and 6 regions, the intron 4 and part of the 3’UTR. One single nucleotide polymorphism located in the 3’-UTR of COMT gene (c.*111G>A) was identified and a new PCR-RFLP protocol was set up. Preliminary results indicated that the most frequent allele was the c.*111G. The mutation for its localisation in the 3’-UTR region might have an effect on the mRNA stability and on the levels of enzymes.