Biochemical characterization of bovine αs1-casein F and genotyping with sequence-specific primers

Bovine alpha(s1)-casein F (alpha(s1)-CN F) was found in a genetic resource of Deutsches Schwarzbuntes Niederungsrind cows at a frequency of 0.009. Biochemical characterization of this new variant was obtained by automated sequencing of reversed-phase HPLC-separated tryptic peptides of alpha(s1)-CN F and alpha(s2)-CN B. alpha(s1)-CN F was found to be a subtype of alpha(s1)-CN B with a single aminoacid substitution (SerP/Leu) in position 66. DNA sequencing revealed a C/T transition in position 8418 of the gene. Sequence-specific primers were designed to perform an allele-specific polymerase chain reaction for detection of alpha(s1) Cn(F). Typing of artificial insemination sperm samples included in the genetic resource sperm pool identified one sire heterozygous for alpha(s1) Cn(F).