COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF INTERFERON ALPHA GENE IN SOKOTO GUDALI AND WIITE FULANI CATTLE BREEDS IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Interferons (IFNs) are multifunctional cytokines that confer antiviral responses in different types of cells.
Interferon alpha (IFNa) possesses various biological roles which include the activation of the immune system and modulation of cell differentiation. The physico-chemical properties (Molecular weight, instability index, Grand average of hydropathicity, aliphatic index, total number of positively charged residues (Arg + Lys) and isoelectric point) The IFNa sequences of both Sokoto Gudali (SG) and White F ulani (WF) were carried out after DNA extraction. The results of, ‘physico-chemical properties revealed that the IFNa. had high molecular weights which classified it as immunogenic in nature. The instability index revealed that the gene is unstable while the negative grand average of hydropathicity (-0.601 to -0.200) values defined it as hydrophilic. Antigenic determinants predicted revealed that it contained four antigenic residues each with propensity greater than 1.0 making it potentially antigenic and might play a crucial role in immunological processes modulating disease pathogenesis. The population genetic diversity revealed that polymorphism within WF IFNa was very high. This study is useful in gaining knowledge of the immunological response of irypanosusceptible cattle breeds of Nigeria.