Aim: PPARGC1A gene has an important role in glucose-lipid metabolism and energy balance. Also, PPARGC1A gene can be used as a candidate gene at milk quality and production at livestock animal. Therefore, this research has been conducted to determine the polymorphisms on 8. exon of PPARGC1A in Anatolian water buffaloes.

Materials and Methods: The total of 183 blood samples taken from Anatolian water buffaloes bred in Afyonkarahisar city and the Anatolian Water Buffaloes in the frame of reclamation project by Animal Breeders were used as a research material in this study. ABI 3500 genetic analyzer was used to investigate the region of 739 bp that from 8. exon to 9. intron of PPARGC1A gene. GENETIX computer program was used for statistics analyses.

Results: In this study, an SNP located at the c.1599A>T on the 8. exon of PPARGC1A gene was found. The population showed disagreement with expected Hardy-Weinberg balance by Chi-square (χ2) analyses (P<0.001). Frequencies of A and T alleles were estimated 0.768 and 0.232, respectively. Heterozigosities were calculated 24.59% in Anatolian water buffaloes population.

Conclusions: As a result, c.1598 A> T polymorphism in exon 8 of PPARGC1A gene can affect the amino acid sequence. Thus, the structure and function of the protein would change the GAC codon encodes Aspartic acid (Asp) and the GTC codon encodes Valin (Val) amino acid. Therefore, determining the effects of c.1598 A>T and other SNPs in PPARGC1A gene on growth could have an effect on the initiation and maintenance of lactation, milk yield, quality of milk and milk fat in Anatolian Water Buffaloes.