Sequence and Comparative Analysis of Myeloperoxidase (MPO) in River Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Precise comparisons of mammalian gene maps require common anchor loci as landmarks for conserved chromosomal segments. One of the comparative anchor tagged sequences (CATS), myeloperoxidase (MPO), has been tested for reaction in the river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis (BBU)) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primer pair for MPO reacted successfully with river buffalo DNA after optimization of PCR conditions. River buffalo partial MPO sequence has been submitted to the nucleotide sequences database NCBI/ Bankit/ GenBank with the accession number EU086095. The sequence analysis of the buffalo PCR product (amplicon) and Blast searches with GenBank published sequences revealed detectable sequence homology with MPO sequences of Bos taurus (BTA), Homo sapiens (HSA), and Mus musculus (MMU). M PO, an important enzyme playing a major role in killing pathogens, marked a detectable deviation from the common concept of the remarkable degree of genomic conservation between river buffalo and cattle and implying more inference to the internal chromosomal rearrangements that may exist among them. On the other hand, the results presented here allow the assignment of MPO gene to river buffalo chromosome BBU3p for the first time, based on comparative mapping predictions and the subsequent investigations in this study, therefore extending the river buffalo physical map. The rapid development of the human and mouse gene maps has stimulated the expansion of genetic maps for several additional mammalian species, particularly those of agricultural and companion animal species (Lyons et al., 1997). In this respect, augmenting the informational content of gene maps as a tool for developing more efficient breeding strategies has targeted animal improvement by the genomic approach. Precise comparisons of mammalian gene maps require common anchor loci as landmarks for conserved chromosomal segments. In this respect, Lyons et al. (1997) designed a number of evolutionarily conserved primer pair sequences termed comparative anchor tag sequences (CATS), providing PCR-format gene markers that can be used to construct and connect gene maps of different mammalian species. The river buffalo is an economically important livestock species in many Asian and Mediterranean countries. Its genetic improvement, especially in disease resistance, reproductive performance and quantity of meat and milk production, ranks high among agricultural research needs of these countries. Considering the first factor, disease is one of the major factors contributing to poor livestock productivity in developing countries. In Egypt as in other developing countries an increase in supplies of livestock products is necessary to meet growing demand from burgeoning populations and rapid urbanization. Several projects were conducted in order to increase buffalo productivity. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an enzyme found in the azurophilic granules of neutrophils and in the lysosomes of monocytes. Its major role is to aid in microbial killing. MPO is most abundant in the granules of neutrophils. Monocytes contain only about a third of the MPO present in neutrophils. W hen neutrophils become activated, which can happen in conjunction with phagocytosis, they undergo a process referred to as a respiratory burst. This respiratory burst causes production of superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, and other reactive oxygen derivatives, which are all toxic to microbes. During respiratory bursts, granule contents are