Genomic characterization and chromosomal mapping of 5 river buffalo skeletal muscle differentiation master genes

River buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis , 2n = 50, BBU) is a species ofeconomic relevance in a number of countries. This speciesshows a very peculiar biology and a great capacity for environmentaladaptation. There has been an increasing economicinterest as well as a growing demand for a more detailedknowledge of molecular features in this species. Fromthis perspective we report a genomic, transcriptional andcytogenetic analysis of 5 master genes involved in skeletalmuscle development. Of these 5 genes, MYOD1 , MYF5 , MYF6and MYOG belong to the basic helix-loop helix protein familywhile MSTN belongs to the TNF-B protein family. In mammals,these genes are involved in the early stages of skeletalmuscle differentiation, development and regeneration.These pivotal biological functions are finely regulated in atissue- and temporal-specific manner. We used a comparativegenomic approach to obtain the buffalo specific sequencesof MYOD1 and MYF6 . The nucleotide sequence similarityand the protein domain conservation of the newly obtained sequences are analysed with respect to bovine andother mammalian species showing sequence similarity. Thepresence of a polymorphism in MYOD1 coding sequence isdescribed and its possible effect discussed. Using a quantitativePCR approach, we compared the level of the 5 transcriptsin adult and fetal muscle. These genes were physically localisedon river buffalo R-banded chromosomes by FISHusing bovine genomic BAC-clones. Here, we present a genomicand cytogenetic analysis which could offer a backgroundto better characterise the buffalo genes involved inmuscle function and which may be responsible for buffalospecificmeat features.