Association between polymorphism in the <it>FTO </it>gene and growth and carcass traits in pig crosses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Independent studies have shown that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the human <it>FTO </it>(<it>fat mass and obesity associated</it>) gene are associated with obesity. SNP have also been identified in the pig <it>FTO </it>gene, among which some are associated with selected fat-deposition traits in F₂crosses and commercial populations. In this study, using both commercial pig populations and an experimental Meishan × Pietrain F₂population, we have investigated the association between one <it>FTO </it>SNP and several growth and carcass traits. Association analyses were performed with the <it>FTO </it>polymorphism either alone or in combination with polymorphisms in flanking loci.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>SNP (FM244720:g.400C>G) in exon 3 of porcine <it>FTO </it>was genotyped by PCR-RFLP and tested for associations with some growth, carcass and fat-related traits. Proportions of genetic variance of four pig chromosome 6 genes (<it>FTO</it>, <it>RYR1</it>, <it>LIPE </it>and <it>TGFB1</it>) on selected traits were evaluated using single- and multi-locus models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Linkage analysis placed <it>FTO </it>on the p arm of pig chromosome 6, approximately 22 cM from <it>RYR1</it>. In the commercial populations, allele <it>C </it>of the <it>FTO </it>SNP was significantly associated with back fat depth and allele <it>G </it>with muscling traits. In the Meishan × Pietrain F₂pigs, heterozygotes with allele <it>C </it>from the Pietrain sows and allele <it>G </it>from the Meishan boar were more significantly associated with fat-related traits compared to homozygotes with allele <it>G </it>from the Pietrain and allele <it>G </it>from the Meishan breed. In single- and multi-locus models, genes <it>RYR1</it>, <it>TGFB1 </it>and <it>FTO </it>showed high associations. The contribution in genetic variance from the polymorphism in the <it>FTO </it>gene was highest for back fat depth, meat area on the <it>musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis </it>tissues and metabolite glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results show that in pig, <it>FTO </it>influences back fat depth in the commercial populations, while in the Meishan × Pietrain F₂pigs with a <it>CG </it>genotype, heterosis occurs for several fat-related traits.</p>

Abstract licence: CC BY

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