Functional analysis of candidate genes for meat quality in Sus scrofa
Author(s)
Bicorgna, Silvia
Date Issued
March 20, 2012
Type
Doctoral Thesis
Abstract
Recently, some studies have established a connection between Meat Quality Traits and the genetic
background of different pig breeds. This work is aimed to study 10 candidate genes affecting
quality traits and to analyze if in their promoter regions, any SNP can be responsible of
phenotypical differences in two Italian pig breeds, Casertana (CA) and Large White (LW).
In MYF5 gene, we have identified three new SNPs, two in promoter region (T149C and
C802G) and one in exon 1 (G1288C). In LW, the analysis of C802G transversion, in LD with
G1288C, showed only the C/C genotype; instead in CA all the three genotypes (C/C, C/G , G/G)
are represented. Results of in vitro analysis of C802G mutation reveals that the G/G genotype
causes a decreasing in MYF5 gene expression. Haplotype analysis shows that CA breed preserves
more variability with 5 combinations(CC, CC, CC, GG; A/C, C/T, CC, GG; CC, CC, C/G, C/G;
A/C, CC, CC, GG; CC, CC, GG, CC), than LW breed that shows only three combinations(AA, TT,
CC, GG; CC, CC, CC, GG; A/C, C/T, CC, GG). This greater variability in CA is observed also for
the MYOD1 gene study. All CA individuals are heterozygous for all the SNPs verified, instead, the
largest part of LW individuals are homozygous. As concerning the GDF8 gene, the new identified
G449A transition is always in homozygosity G/G for all the Casertana samples; instead the LW
samples are most heterozygous.
To discuss these data we must consider that GDF8 gene influences the muscle mass
development, while MYF5 and MYOD1 belong to the muscle differentiation. Probably, the great
variability of CA breed for the MYF5 and MYOD1 genes, is due to its adaptability to free ranging;
while the low variability in the GDF8 gene can be assigned to the mild exploitation of this breed for
the pork production.
Additional information
Dottorato di ricerca in Ecologia e gestione delle risorse biologiche
Subjects
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