Present study was undertaken to characterise Diacylglycerol O-Acyltransferase (DGAT1) gene of dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Molecular characterisation of 773 bp long DGAT1 gene fragment was performed in Indian dromedary camel through PCR amplification, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. The characterised DGAT1 gene fragment covered partial exon-6, exon-7, 8, 9 and partial exon-10 and complete intron-6, 7, 8, 9 regions. A single nucleotide variation was seen at position 463 C>T of exon-8 in both Bikaneri and Kachchhi breeds. Animals with single and double peaks in the sequence chromatograms were observed at this particular locus. Accordingly, two alleles (C, T) and only two genotypes (CC and CT) were identified in the Bikaneri and Kachchhi camel breeds. Bikaneri and Kachchhi camel (Camelus dromedarius) sequence showed highest similarity (99.71%) with predicted dromedary camel, Ferus (wild) camel, Bactrian camel and Vicugna DGAT1 sequences. With other species like cattle, buffalo, pig, sheep, goat, yak, dog, cat, killer whale, naked mole rat and human DGAT1 sequence similarity ranging from 73.55 % to 84.93 % was observed. Pig was closest species (84.93%), whereas American Shorthair breed of cat (78.08%) was least similar to dromedary camel. Similar relationship was observed between species on the phylogenetic analysis of DGAT1 gene nucleotide sequences.
Key words: Camel, DGAT1 gene, dromedary, phylogeny
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