Skip to main content
ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #139987
Title: Characterization of the porcine melanocortin 2 receptor gene (MC2R)

Author
item JACOBS, K - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item VAN POUCKE, M - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item MATTHEEUWS, M - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item CHARDON, P - INRA, CEA, FRANCE
item YERLE, M - INRA, CEDEX, FRANCE
item Rohrer, Gary
item VAN ZEVEREN, A - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item PEELMAN, L - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM

Submitted to: Animal Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2002
Publication Date: 11/2/2002
Citation: Jacobs, K., Van Poucke, M., Mattheeuws, M., Chardon, P., Yerle, M., Rohrer, G.A., Van Zeveren, A., Peelman, L.J. 2002. Characterization of the porcine melanocortin 2 receptor gene (MC2R). Animal Genetics 33:415-421.

Interpretive Summary: Two genes which affect food intake and energy metabolism (melanocortin 2 receptor and melanocortin 5 receptor) were studied and mapped in the pig. Structures of both genes were determined and tissues were evaluated for levels of message expressed. Expression of the melanocortin 2 receptor was not detected in any of the 12 tissues evaluated, but melanocortin 5 receptor was detected in kidney, fat, pancreas and spleen. Both genes were evaluated for changes in the sequence which could affect the protien product but none were found. It was determined that both genes were close to each other in the pig genome and that they map to pig chromosome 6 at position 97 cM. This study was unable to identify any variation which could be responsible for differences in growth rate or body composition in the pigs examined.

Technical Abstract: A porcine BAC clone, containing the melanocortin 2 receptor gene (MC2R)was isolated. The complete coding sequence of the melanocortin 5 receptor gene, contained in 1 exon, was determined. PCR-SSCP was performed on a 241 bp coding fragment. An AluI polymorphism, detecting a silent mutation, was found and typed on unrelated animals of 5 different pig breeds. The Meishan, Pietrain and Large White breeds differ significantly in allele frequencies from the Landrace and Czech Meat Pig breeds. The melanocortin 5 receptor gene was detected by PCR in the same BAC clone, as could be expected from the human and porcine mapping data. PCR-SSCP was performed on a 200 bp coding of the melanocortin 5 receptor gene but no polymorphisms was detected.