Association of PPARγ2 polymorphisms with carcass and meat quality traits in a Pietrain x Jinhua F2 population

• Main Authors: Zhe Chen, Xiaofeng Zhao, Xiaoling Jiang, Xiaoling Guo, Zunzhou Lv, Hongmei Zhou, Ningying Xu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2011-01-01
• Series: Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: PPARγ2 gene; haplotype; carcass and meat quality; pigs
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572011000100011&lng=en&tlng=en

The PPARγ2 gene is a key regulator of both proliferation and preadipocyte differentiation in mammals. Herein its genotype and allele frequencies were analyzed using PCR-SSCP in eight pig breeds (N = 416). Two kinds of polymorphisms of the PPARγ2 gene were detected, including a previously reported shift SNP A177G (Met59Val) in exon 1 and a novel silent mutation G876A in exon 5. The results revealed that European pig breeds carry a higher allele A frequency at the A177G locus and a fixed GG genotype at the G876A locus. Allele A at the G876A locus was only found in Jinhua pigs. The association between haplotype (A177G/G876A) and carcass and meat quality traits was analyzed in a Pietrain x Jinhua F2 population (N = 248). The PPARγ2 gene was found to be significantly associated with backfat thickness at the shoulder (p < 0.05), 6-7th ribs (p < 0.01), last rib (p < 0.01), gluteus medius (p <0.05) and ham weight (p < 0.01). Significant effects of different haplotypes on ham weight and backfat thickness at the 6-7th ribs, last rib, and gluteus medius were also observed.