Characterization, expression profiles, intracellular distribution and association analysis of porcine PNAS-4 gene with production traits.
BACKGROUND
In a previous screen to identify differentially expressed genes associated with embryonic development, the porcine PNAS-4 gene had been found. Considering differentially expressed genes in early stages of muscle development are potential candidate genes to improve meat quality and production efficiency, we determined how porcine PNAS-4 gene regulates meat production. Therefore, this gene has been sequenced, expression analyzed and associated with meat production traits.


RESULTS
We cloned the full-length cDNA of porcine PNAS-4 gene encoding a protein of 194 amino acids which was expressed in the Golgi complex. This gene was mapped to chromosome 10, q11-16, in a region of conserved synteny with human chromosome 1 where the human homologous gene was localized. Real-time PCR revealed that PNAS-4 mRNA was widely expressed with highest expression levels in skeletal muscle followed by lymph, liver and other tissues, and showed a down-regulated expression pattern during prenatal development while a up-regulated expression pattern after weaning. Association analysis revealed that allele C of SNP A1813C was prevalent in Chinese indigenous breeds whereas A was dominant allele in Landrace and Large White, and the pigs with homozygous CC had a higher fat content than those of the pigs with other genotypes (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Porcine PNAS-4 protein tagged with green fluorescent protein accumulated in the Golgi complex, and its mRNA showed a widespread expression across many tissues and organs in pigs. It may be an important factor affecting the meat production efficiency, because its down-regulated expression pattern during early embryogenesis suggests involvement in increase of muscle fiber number. In addition, the SNP A1813C associated with fat traits might be a genetic marker for molecular-assisted selection in animal breeding.
Mo
Delin
D
State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science, Beijing 100094, PR China. modelin@mail.sysu.edu.cn
Zhu
Zhengmao
Z
te Pas
Marinus F W
MF
Li
Xinyun
X
Yang
Shulin
S
Wang
Heng
H
Wang
Huanling
H
Li
Kui
K
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D024510:Muscle Development / Q000235:genetics; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D040641:Quantitative Trait Loci; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics*
D051017:Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger