Association of the melanocortin 4 receptor with feed intake and daily gain in F2 Mangalitsa x Piétrain pigs.
The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a key factor in the regulation of energy balance and body weight. Hence it is a candidate for feed intake and energy homeostasis-related traits. Studies in humans and swine have revealed several sequence variants in the gene that are associated with some of these traits. In pigs the coding non-synonymous missense variant Asp298Asn in MC4R has been associated with feed intake, fatness and growth. Here we confirm the association of this Piétrain-derived polymorphism with feed intake and daily gain in the F2 generation of a Mangalitsa x Piétrain cross. In one Piétrain founder animal, we detected an additional non-synonymous missense variant Arg236His. Thus, the MC4R gene could be a useful marker for increased growth in the relatively slow-growing Piétrain breed.
Meidtner
K
K
Technical University Munich, Freising-Weihenstephan 85350, Germany.
Wermter
A-K
AK
Hinney
A
A
Remschmidt
H
H
Hebebrand
J
J
Fries
R
R
D000818:Animals; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D004435:Eating / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006239:Haplotypes; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000235:genetics*
D005819:Genetic Markers; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4