Abstract

The present study was carried out to characterize the αs2-casein gene in Riverine buffalo. Total RNA was extracted from the mammary tissue of buffalo and αs2-casein cDNA were synthesized by RT-PCR, then cloned using pDRIVE-cloning vector and sequenced. The sequencing revealed that the size of αs2-casein was 669 bp with GC content of 41.11%. The gene encoded for 222 amino acid precursors and that it possessed 15 amino acids signal peptide. The similarity of buffalo αs2-casein mRNA sequence with that of cattle, sheep, goat, pig and camel were estimated as 97.9, 93.6, 93.4, 73.5 and 73.0%, respectively. In the phylogenetic trees, constructed from the data of the αs2-casein mRNA sequences as well as protein sequences, it has been observed that the cattle and buffalo were in the same group whereas sheep and goat formed another group. The camel and swine were placed in two separate groups.