Detection of QTL affecting fatty acid composition in the pig.
We present a QTL genome scan for fatty acid composition in pigs. An F2 cross between Iberian x Landrace pigs and a regression approach fitting the carcass weight as a covariate for QTL identification was used. Chromosomes (Chrs) 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 showed highly significant effects. The Chr 4 QTL influenced the linoleic content and both the fatty acid double-bond index and peroxidability index. In Chr 6 we found significant associations with the double-bond index and the unsaturated index of fatty acids. Chr 8 showed clear effects on the percentages of palmitic and palmitoleic fatty acids as well as the average chain length of fatty acids. In Chr 10 we detected a significant QTL for the percentage of myristic fatty acid, with an F value that was slightly above the genomewide threshold. The percentage of linolenic fatty acid was affected by a region on Chr 12. A nearly significant QTL for the content of gadoleic fatty acid was also detected in Chr 12. We also analyzed the genomic QTL distribution by a regression model that fits the backfat thickness as a covariate. Some of the QTL that were detected in our analysis could not be detected when the data were corrected by backfat thickness. This work shows how critical the selection of a covariate can be in the interpretation of results. This is the first report of a genome scan detection of QTL directly affecting fatty acid composition in pigs.
Clop
Alex
A
Department de Ciència Animal i dels Aliments, Facultat de Veterinària, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain. alex.clop@uab.es
Ovilo
Cristina
C
Perez-Enciso
Miguel
M
Cercos
Albert
A
Tomas
Anna
A
Fernandez
Ana
A
Coll
Agustina
A
Folch
Josep M
JM
Barragan
Carmen
C
Diaz
Isabel
I
Oliver
Maria A
MA
Varona
Luis
L
Silio
Luis
L
Sanchez
Armand
A
Noguera
Jose L
JL
D000818:Animals; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D005227:Fatty Acids