title: Genetic variation in the pro-melanin-concentrating hormone gene affects carcass traits in Bos taurus cattle.
abstract: Mammalian pro-melanin-concentrating hormone (PMCH) has previously been shown to affect feed intake in rodent species. The objectives of this study were to sequence the Bos taurus PMCH gene in order to identify any existing genetic variants and to evaluate whether these affected carcass traits. An A-to-T SNP was identified at position -134 relative to the ATG start codon (g.-134A>T). The alleles at this SNP were significantly associated with average fat and grade fat in two crossbred populations of Bos taurus cattle. The g.-134T allele may introduce a binding site for the transcriptional repressor, adenovirus E4 promoter binding protein, which may contribute to this effect. The g.-134A allele occurred in 67% of cattle examined and was associated with higher fat levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Saskatchewan, 72 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5A8, Canada.
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Helgeson
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Schmutz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010375:Pedigree; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D007028:Hypothalamic Hormones; D011498:Protein Precursors; C059991:melanin-concentrating hormone precursors