Variation in the KAP8-2 gene affects wool crimp and growth in Chinese Tan sheep

The keratin-associated protein KAP8-2, is present in wool from sheep. The effect of variation in KRTAP8-2 on wool traits was investigated in Chinese Tan sheep. Two previously identified KRTAP8-2 alleles (A and B) were detected, but the frequency of B in the Tan sheep was much higher than reported previously for New Zealand (NZ) sheep. Variant A was found to be associated with both a decrease in straightened fibre-length and the ratio of straightened length to crimped length at day-35 post-partum (conventionally called 'Er-mao'). A trend was evident between the presence/absence of A and crimped fibre-length at Er-mao, and between the presence/absence of A and fibre growth-rate from birth to Er-mao. This suggests that variation in ovine KRTAP8-2 may affect wool crimping and growth in the early life of Tan sheep.