Comparative evaluation of A1A2 and A2A2 cow milk-containing diets on biochemical and histological parameters of Wistar rats.

This Research Communication aims to compare the effect of A1A2 and A2A2 cow milk diets on the biochemical and histological parameters of rats. The rats were divided into four groups and fed with a normal diet, A2 milk powder, A1A2 or A2A2 cow milk diets for 90 d. Blood glucose, kidney function, liver function and lipid profile were examined during the experimental period. The study showed an increase in the body weight of the A1A2 group whereas a slight decrease in the A2A2 group, and blood glucose levels increased from d 0 to day 90 in all experimental groups. However, none of these changes were found to be statistically insignificant (P > 0.05). Moreover, no significant changes were recorded in other parameters (serum glutamic pyruvic transferase and serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase for liver function, bilirubin direct, cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine and uric acid). The histology of the liver, kidney and pancreas also showed no changes in all groups. Overall, this study revealed no significant difference in the nutritional values of A1A2 and A2A2 milk types and hence equally beneficial for health. Although the present study showed no significant difference in the effect of both milk types in 90 d, further studies might be conducted to evaluate their longer term effects.

Assessment of A1 and A2 variants in the CNS2 gene of some cattle breeds by using ACRS-PCR method.

The aim of this study is to reveal ß-casein polymorphism of some cattle breeds and also the potential to produce A2 milk from existing animals and to develop strategies in this area. Therefore, a total of 400 cattle, 100 animals from each breed of Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Simmental raised commonly in Turkey, were obtained, and C > A polymorphism in 67th amino acid in the 7th exons of ß-casein gene was determined by TaqI enzyme with PCR-ACRS method. Blood samples were collected from dairy cattle farms raising Holstein, Brown Swiss and Jersey breeds from Konya province and Simmental breed from Kütahya province in Turkey. A1 and A2 allele frequencies in Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Simmental cattle breeds were determined as 0.475/0.525, 0.370/0.630, 0.215/0.785 and 0.440/0.560, respectively. The highest A2 allele frequency (0.785) was found in Jersey breed. A1A1 genotypes in Holstein, Brown Swiss, Jersey and Simmental breeds were 0.240, 0.150, 0.030 and 0.160, respectively; A1A2 genotypes were 0.470, 0.440, 0.370 and 0.560, respectively; A2A2 genotypes were determined as 0.290, 0.410, 0.600 and 0.280, respectively. In these breeds, the highest A2A2 genotype frequency was found in Jersey (0.600), the lowest A1A1 genotype frequency (0.030) was found in Jersey and the highest A1A2 genotype frequency (0.560) was found in Simmental. Holstein, Brown Swiss, Simmental and Jersey populations were at the level of Hardy-Weinberg in terms of ß-casein gene (p > 0.05). The average Ho, He and PIC values were calculated as 0.460, 0.469 and 0.605, respectively. In conclusion, the frequency of commonly reared cattles in Turkey especially Brown Swiss, and Jersey breeds in A2A2 genotype are satisfactory, but it can be said that the use of animals with A2 allele in selection is extremely important for increasing A2 milk producing potential in the future.

Distribution and molecular basis of A2 subtype in Guangzhou blood donors / 中国输血杂志

【Objective】 To investigate the distribution and molecular basis of A2 subtype among blood donors in Guangzhou. 【Methods】 Whole blood samples of 793 group A blood donors in Guangzhou Blood Center were randomly collected. A2 subtype was screened by anti-A1 lectin in 96-well plate, and ABO typing was confirmed by the tube test. Then, the genomic DNA of A2 subtype blood donors was extracted, and the exons 6-7 of ABO gene were sequenced to determine the genotype of A2 subtype. 【Results】 Among 793 group A blood donors, there were 13 cases of A2 subtype, and the frequency in group A was 1.64%(13/793). The sequencing results of exons 6-7 of ABO gene showed that 10 of the 13 A2 subtypes carried A2 alleles, which were ABO*A2.05/ ABO*O.01.01 (n=5), ABO*A2.05/ ABO*O.01.02(n=2), ABO*A2.01/ABO*O.01.01(n=1) and ABO*A2.01/ ABO*O.01.02(n=2), respectively. The other 3 cases only carried ABO*A1.02 alleles. 【Conclusion】 The main genotype of A2 subtype in Guangzhou is ABO*A2.05, followed by ABO*A2.01.

Allele-related variations in the CCAAT-binding factor/NF-Y enhancer region of the A_2 blood group / 中国输血杂志

A)at nt.41 of the only one repeat in 15 individuals with the A205 allele were detected.No special molecular background was found in the two samples which were phenotyped as A2,but genotyped as A102/B101.Conclusion CBF/NF-Y enhancer region of the A2 alleles occurs with minisatellite fragments length polymorphisms.Allele-specific variations in CBF/NF-Y enhancer region of A2 blood group gene were elucidated in Chinese population.