Molecular cloning, sequence identification and tissue expression profile of three novel genes Sfxn1, Snai2 and Cno from Black-boned sheep (Ovis aries).

The complete coding sequences of three of Black-boned sheep (Ovis aries) genes Sfxn1, Snai2 and Cno were amplified using the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) according to the conserved sequence information of the cattle or other mammals and known highly homologous sheep ESTs. Black-boned sheep Sfxn1 gene encodes a protein of 322 amino acids which has high homology with the Sfxn1 proteins of five species--cattle 98%, pig 95%, human 95%, rat 93%, and mouse 93%. Black-boned sheep Snai2 gene encodes a protein of 268 amino acids that has high identity with the Snai2 proteins of six species--cattle 99%, pig 94%, human 93%, dog 93%, rat 91%, and mouse 90%. Black-boned sheep Cno gene encodes a protein of 214 amino acids that has high homology with the Cno proteins of four species--cattle 97%, human 75%, mouse 67%, and rat 65%. The phylogenetic tree analysis demonstrated that Black-boned sheep Sfxn1, Snai2 and Cno proteins have close relationship with cattle Sfxn1, Snai2 and Cno proteins. The tissue expression analysis indicated that Black-boned sheep Sfxn1, Snai2 and Cno genes were expressed in a range of tissues including leg muscle, kidney, skin, longissimus dorsi muscle, spleen, heart and liver. Our experiment is the first to provide the primary foundation for further insight into these three sheep genes.