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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Livestock Bio-Systems » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #228660
Title: SNP Detection in the Porcine PPARGC1A Promoter Region and 3'UTR, and an Association Analysis in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire Population

Author
item ERKENS, T - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item Rohrer, Gary
item VAN ZEVEREN, A - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM
item PEELMAN, L.J. - GHENT UNIV, BELGIUM

Submitted to: Czech Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2009
Publication Date: 11/1/2009
Citation: Erkens, T., Rohrer, G.A., Van Zeveren, A., Peelman, L.J. 2009. SNP Detection in the Porcine PPARGC1A Promoter Region and 3'UTR, and an Association Analysis in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire Population. Czech Journal of Animal Science. 54(9):408-416.

Interpretive Summary: The results from this study contribute to our knowledge about the fat regulating gene PPARGC1A and provide essential information for unravelling the complex regulation of expression and function of PPARGC1A in the pig. The newly discovered SNPs in the regulatory regions can be used in future studies to assess their usefulness as selection criteria for improvement of meat quality in pigs while maintaining the leanness of the carcass.

Technical Abstract: One of the most important economic selection criteria in pigs today is meat quality, contrasting with the more traditional focus on just lean growth. Meat quality however is determined by many factors with a complex mutual relationship. In this regard, PPARGC1A is a very interesting candidate gene because it not only has a central role in energy and fat metabolism, but also has an important influence on muscle fibre type composition. In order to get a better understanding of the regulation of expression of this gene, almost 1900 basepairs (bp) from the promoter region and the complete 3'UTR (3826 bp) were sequenced and screened for mutations in 7 diverse pig breeds. In each region respectively 5 and 6 new mutations were discovered. Four mutations in the 3'UTR appeared to be linked to each other and were only found in Landrace and Large White pigs. None of the detected SNPs appeared to be located in any conserved part of the sequence when comparing different species. All except 3 mutations were detected in 56 of the commercial, hybrid Piétrain-Landrace pigs, including 2 previously described polymorphisms in exon 8 and 9. In an association analysis carried out in a Landrace-Duroc-Yorkshire commercial research population (n = 960) no associations were detected for any SNPs tested with intramuscular fat percentage, leaf fat weight or last rib backfat depth. This is in contrast with previous studies where an association between mutations in exon 8 and 9 and meat quality characteristics was found. Therefore the newly detected mutations in the promoter region and 3'UTR, and the previously described ones in exon 8 and 9 need further evaluation to assess their influence on PPARGC1A expression and regulation, and to determine their possible use as selection markers for improving meat quality while maintaining the leanness of the carcass.