title: Mutations of MC4R gene and its association with economic traits in Qinchuan cattle.
abstract: MC4R belongs to a seven-transmembrane G-protein-coupled receptor which may regulate body composition and insulin action. Many mutations in the MC4R gene are associated with obesity, energy expenditure and serum triglyceride levels in human and animals. Six mutations in the MC4R gene were identified in our study (-293C>G, -193A>T, -192T>G, -129A>G, -84T>C and 1,069C>G). The -129A>G was significantly associated with live weight (LW) (P < 0.05), Cattle with the genotypes AG and GG had higher LW than genotype AA. The 1,069C>G was significantly associated with LW, carcass weight (CW), backfat thickness and marbling score (MS). Cattle with the genotype GG had higher LW, CW and MS than genotype CC; Cattle with the genotypes GG and CG had higher MS than CC. The results suggested that -129A>G and 1,069C>G SNP of the MC4R gene may be useful as a genetic marker for carcass and meat quality traits in Qinchuan cattle.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Hongyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wanqiang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Linsen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zan
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002417:Cattle / Q000235:genetics*; D002681:China; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D008460:Meat / Q000191:economics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4