title: Analysis of MC4R polymorphism in Italian Large White and Italian Duroc pigs: association with carcass traits.
abstract: The melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene codes for a G protein transmembrane receptor playing an important role in energy homeostasis control. In pig a single nucleotide polymorphism c.1426G>A has been identified and associated to average daily gain, feed intake and fatness traits but a lack of agreement on the effects of the gene on carcass traits in different breeds comes out from many studies. In the present study the c.1426G>A polymorphism is analysed in two Italian pig breeds, Large White and Duroc to study the association of the MC4R gene with some carcass traits. The results show that the c.1426G>A polymorphism affects daily gain, feed conversion ratio and ham weight in both breeds, lean cuts in the Italian Duroc and backfat thickness in the Italian Large White. The presence of MC4R mRNA transcript in different porcine tissues was analysed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agri-food Protection and Valorisation (DIPROVAL), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Italy. roberta.davoli@unibo.it
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davoli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Braglia
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Valastro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Annaratone
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Annarratone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Comella
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zambonelli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nisi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buttazzoni
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D001947:Breeding; D004247:DNA / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044105:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 4; D004247:DNA