Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) polymorphisms associated with carcass traits of meat in Korean cattle.
BACKGROUND
Cold carcass weight (CW) and longissimus muscle area (EMA) are the major quantitative traits in beef cattle. In this study, we found several polymorphisms of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) gene and examined the association of polymorphisms with carcass traits (CW and EMA) in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo).


RESULTS
By direct DNA sequencing in 24 unrelated Korean cattle, we identified 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms within the 9 kb full gene region, including the 1.5 kb promoter region. Among them, six polymorphic sites were selected for genotyping in our beef cattle (n = 428) and five marker haplotypes (frequency > 0.1) were identified. Statistical analysis revealed that -4241A>T showed significant associations with CW and EMA.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in GHRH might be one of the important genetic factors that influence carcass yield in beef cattle. Sequence variation/haplotype information identified in this study would provide valuable information for the production of a commercial line of beef cattle.
Cheong
Hyun Sub
HS
Department of Genetic Epidemiology, SNP Genetics, Inc., Seoul, 153-803, Korea. chhs@snp-genetics.com
Yoon
Du-Hak
DH
Kim
Lyoung Hyo
LH
Park
Byung Lae
BL
Choi
Yoo Hyun
YH
Chung
Eui Ryong
ER
Cho
Yong Min
YM
Park
Eng Woo
EW
Cheong
Il-Cheong
IC
Oh
Sung-Jong
SJ
Yi
Sung-Gon
SG
Park
Taesung
T
Shin
Hyoung Doo
HD
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D007723:Korea; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable
D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone