Rapid Detection of SNPs in Buffalo MC4R Gene by Matrix-assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry

The study used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) for rapid determination of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in buffalo MC4R gene,which provided a foundation for constructing the marker-assisted selection(MAS)strategy.The cDNA sequence of buffalo MC4R gene was screened rapidly based on PCR amplification and sequencing method,and in which 13 SNPs were found.To further identify the reliability of screening system,8 SNPs were genotyped in 380 buffaloes using the MALDI-TOF-MS technology.The results revealed that 8 SNPs had an average of 98.0% in call rate,and in which three genotypes could be accurately distinguished.The average minor allele frequency (MAF),average heterozygosity and polymorphism information content (PIC) value of the 8 markers was 0.24,0.28 and 0.23,respectively.Our findings indicated that the rapid determination method of MALDI-TOF-MS with PCR and sequencing with highly accurate properties was a useful tool for identifying the SNPs of buffalo MC4R gene that laid the foundations for studying SNP genotype in buffalo genes associated production traits.