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Study of mutations in aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) gene in cattle from fly ash zone in Maharashtra, India

The experiment was undertaken collaboratively at the Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, Nagpur Veterinary College, Nagpur; National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur to study the mutagenic effect of fly ash on bovine Amino Levulinic Acid Dehydratase (ALAD) gene. DNA was extracted from blood samples of 49 fly ash exposed cattle born and reared in vicinity of two Thermal Power Plants, Koradi and Khaperkheda and 41 healthy animals reared at organised farms located more than 10 kilometres away from the plants as the control group. Polymerase Chain Reaction and DNA sequencing of the PCR products were carried out for mutation analysis. ‘MEGA- 5, Bioedit and ‘Clustal Omega’ software were used to analyse the sequenced data. Thirteen animals from fly ash exposed group revealed mutations at different loci. Most of the animals exhibiting mutations had phenotypic expression of heavy metal toxicity. The nucleotide substitution variant G ® C was observed in highest frequency. Mutations in bovine ALAD gene may be due to a prolonged exposure to heavy metals and other toxic elements present in fly ash released from the thermal power plants. Further, it serves as ALAD gene may be used as a good candidate for further toxico-genomic studies.