Members of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, growth differentiation factor 9 （GDF9） and bone morphogenetic protein 15 （BMP 15）, have crucial roles in fecundity of sheep. Our previous investigation confirmed that the fecundity mutations of sheep presented in highly prolific White goat individuals of Guizhou province. To illuminate other polymorphisms in Bmpl5 and Gdfl） genes and the relationship of these mutations with function, we cloned and characterized the coding region of Bmp15 and Gdfl）. Molecular models of BMP15 and GDF9 mature peptide of White goat were constructed based on the homology of human BMP7 experimental tertiary structure. Two exons encoded prepropeptide of 394 amino acids in BMPI5 and 453 residues in GDF9, respectively. Apart from the FecXs mutation （S99I） in BMP15 and V791 mutation in GDF9 confirmed in White goat previously, other seven and three polymorphism sites were detected from BMP15 and GDF9 mature peptides, respectively. S32G, N66H, S99I/P99I and G107R in BMP15 could be important for the binding of dimer to receptors. Changes of P78Q and V79I in GDF9 might affect the binding of dimer to receptor type t. Comparing the length of BMP 15 and GDF9 prepropeptide in vertebrates, an increase in length of BMP 15 presented along with the protein evolution from fish to mammal and the divergence of the N-terminus residues in matured BMP15 peptide might contribute to the sensitive control on the fertility of animal species with low ovulation rate. These findings gave a valuable explanation for the correlation of mutations in Bmpl5 and Gdfl） genes with the control on fecundity of White goat and supported the notion that they were the pivotal factors in female fertility of White goat in Guizhou province.
骨形态发生蛋白15(bone morphogenetic protein 15,BMP15)基因是控制Belclare和Cambridge等绵羊的高繁殖力主效基因,BMP15蛋白中单个氨基酸的改变直接影响绵羊的产卵率和产羔数。采用RFLP和SSCP技术检测BMP15基因中绵羊高繁殖力突变类型FecXG和FecXB在贵州白山羊中的分布。结果表明,在贵州白山羊样品中没有检测到BMP15基因的FecXG突变,说明该突变在贵州白山羊中的自然发生率非常低;在贵州白山羊高产母羊和公羊中检测到BMP15的FecXB突变,以杂合的AB基因型存在,低产母羊中没有检测到该突变,提示BMP15基因的FecXB突变可能是影响贵州白山羊繁殖力的因素之一。
