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DErkenov T.A., Dzhatdoev Kh. M., Kulikova E.A. Microsatellite polymorphism in Karachay sheep Ovis aries L. Sel'skokhozyaistvennaya Biologiya [Agricultural Biology], 2025, Vol. 60, № 6, p. 1033-1043.
(how to cite this article)

doi: 10.15389/agrobiology.2025.6.1033eng

UDC: 636.32/.38:575.224

Acknowledgements:
Carried out within the state assignment of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (theme No. 1023083000004-7-4.1.1)

 

MICROSATELLITE POLYMORPHISM IN KARACHAY SHEEP Ovis aries L.

T.A. Erkenov 1✉, Kh. M. Dzhatdoev1, E.A. Kulikova2

1North Caucasian State Academy, 36, ul. Stavropol'skaya, Cherkessk, KCHR, 369001 Russia, e-mail ehr.timur@yandex.ru (✉ corresponding author), 253797@mail.ru;
2JSC WBD, 108, Dmitrovskoye sh., Moscow, 127591 Russia, e-mail Ekaterina.Kulikova@pepsico.com

ORCID:
Erkenov T.A. orcid.org/0009-0006-8366-3759
Kulikova E.A. orcid.org/0009-0001-8464-0923
Dzhatdoev Kh.M. orcid.org/0009-0000-5863-2965

Final revision received September 02, 2025
Accepted October 22, 2025

Biodiversity decline requires special attention to the study and conservation of locally adapted aboriginal breeds. Karachay sheep have an increased ability to adapt to high-altitude conditions (over 3,000 m above sea level). In this study, using a standard panel recommended by the International Society of Animal Genetics (ISAG), a microsatellite polymorphism analysis was performed at the Makhar Breeding Farm (southeastern part of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, at altitudes from 1,000 to 3,000 m above sea level). Data were obtained on significant differences in polymorphism between different loci, as well as between the typical polymorphism for the Karachay breed, compared to genotyping results for the same loci in other sheep breeds presented in the literature. Specifically, the highest number of allelic variants was found in the Karachay breed at the OarFCB20 locus (17 alleles), while the lowest number was found at the ETH152 and MAF214 loci (each with 7 alleles). Relatively low polymorphism at the MAF214 locus was observed in various sheep breeds, but unlike the results of other studies, two typical allelic variants, 189 and 191, were distinguished in the Karachay breed, accounting for a total of 83 % of cases among others. In five of the six males studied, four homozygotes for the 189 bp allele and one for the 191 bp allele were detected. The highest heterozygous values (in %) were observed in ewes at the McM42, McM527, OarFCB20, INRA172, MAF65, and INRA5 loci, and almost two times lower values were observed at the INRA6 and CSRD247 loci. At most microsatellite loci, one or two alleles could be identified, occurring at 20 % or more of all alleles, designated as typical. The exceptions were the OarFCB20 (17 alleles) and INRA5 (15 alleles) loci, for which such typical alleles were not detected. All microsatellites are represented by dinucleotide tandem repeats, typical alleles for three of them differed by one repeat (locus McM527 — alleles 164 bp, 166 bp; MAF65 — 125 bp, 127 bp; MAF214 — 189 bp, 191 bp). A certain tendency towards coincidences in the presence of allelic variants of different microsatellites was observed for INRA6 (9 alleles) and CSRD247 (9 alleles) loci between alleles 110 bp and 213 bp, respectively. Both of these alleles were found at a frequency of 61 % each of all identified alleles, of which 20 % coincided in heterozygotes and 18 % in homozygotes. The obtained data demonstrate wide variability in the number of allelic variants between microsatellite loci both in the Karachay breed and within the same microsatellite in different sheep breeds. The importance of analyzing microsatellite loci polymorphisms is discussed in connection with the large database accumulated in agricultural animal species, which makes it possible to identify genomic regions that differ, in particular, in the intensity of the influence of environmental factors, potentially leading to variability in the number of alleles.

Keywords: Karachay sheep, microsatellite loci, alleles, homo-heterozygotes, high-mountain conditions.

 

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