Molecular analysis of some plant-derived retrotransposons in Artlı and Karayaka lambs at 30th and 60th days of fattening by IRAP and REMAP methods

Sheep (Ovis aries) is a culturally, economically and socially important livestock primarily farmed to produce meat, milk and fleece. Retrotransposons are mobile genetic elements that use RNA as a transposition tool, can be translocated within the genome, and are involved in regulating gene expression and epigenetic processes. In this thesis study, the rations of Artlı and Karayaka lambs on the 30th and 60th days after weaning were analysed; The polymorphism status of retrotransposons Sukkula specific to barley, SURE specific to sunflower, Daniela LTR1, Daniela LTR2, Fatima and Wis LTR2 specific to wheat, Tekay specific to maize and SIRE1 specific to soybean were investigated by IRAP-PCR (Inter-Retrotransposon Amplification Polymorphism) and REMAP (Retrotransposon Microsatellite Amplification Polymorphism) methods. According to the results of IRAP-PCR analyses, the polymorphism rates of Daniela LTRI, Daniela LTR2, Fatima LTR, SIRE1, Sukkula, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 retrotransposons in 30-day old samples were determined between 0-86%, 71-89%, 63-100%, 0-60%, 50-94%, 0-100%, 50-70%, 50-75% for Artlı and Karayaka, respectively. When the 60th day after weaning groups were analysed, the polymorphism rates in Daniela LTRI, Daniela LTR2, Fatima LTR, SIRE1, Sukkula, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 retrotransposons were determined between 60-86%, 71-78%, 40-80%, 36-55%, 58-94%, 0-80%, 45-60%, 40-90%, respectively. In this study, REMAP-PCR was combined with ISSR primers and IRAP markers for a more reliable determination of genetic diversity. According to REMAP1 analysis results, polymorphism rates for Daniela LTR1, SIRE1, Sukkula, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 retrotransposons in 30-day-old were calculated between 75-100%, 67-75%, 50-100%, 40-50%, 50-90%, 33-100%, respectively. In 60-day old samples, the polymorphism rates of Daniela LTR1, SIRE1, Sukkula, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 retrotransposons were found between 50-86%, 67-69%, 0-88%, 25-33%, 60-78% and 20-50%, respectively. As a result of REMAP2 analysis, polymorphism rates for Daniela LTR1, Daniela LTR2, Fatima LTR, SIRE1, Sukkula, Tekay and Wis LTR2 retrotransposons in 30 days old samples were found between 50-100%, 25-100%, 0-100%, 50-64%, 56-100%, 57-71%, 0-14%, respectively; and 60-100%, 0-33%, 25-60%, 50-56%, 50-70%, 0-57%, 0-14% in 60 days old samples, respectively. Within the scope of REMAP3 analysis, polymorphism was detected between 0-64%, 0-100%, 0-100%, 0-100%, 75-100%, 40-70%, 42-64%, 55-92% for Daniela LTR1, Daniela LTR2, Fatima LTR, SIRE1, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 in 30-day-old groups, respectively. At 60 days of age, Daniela LTR1, Daniela LTR2, Fatima LTR, SIRE1, SURE, Tekay and Wis LTR2 showed polymorphism between 17-60%, 0-100%, 75-86%, 50-100%, 40-86%, 43-57%, 54-73%, respectively. The results of the study showed that the polymorphism status of retrotransposons decreased with increasing age for both breeds. It is thought that the reason for this may be that the lambs were fed the same ration and this may be an example of diet-genome interaction.