title: Joint effects of porcine leptin and leptin receptor polymorphisms on productivity and quality traits.
abstract: Leptin signalling plays a fundamental role in growth, fatness and body composition. The aim of this study was to investigate the porcine LEP gene sequence in an Iberian × Landrace experimental cross to identify polymorphisms associated with productivity and quality traits. Because of the documented effects on these traits of the LEPR c.1987C>T polymorphism, the LEP and LEPR c.1987C>T polymorphisms and their interactions have been jointly investigated. The LEP gene sequencing has allowed the identification of 39 polymorphisms, eight of which are novel. Three intronic SNPs, LEP g.1382C>T, LEP g.1387C>T and LEP g.1723A>G, have been genotyped, and association analyses have been carried out. Analyses of LEP g.1387C>T, fully linked to LEP g.1382C>T, have revealed additive effects on live and carcass weights and dominant effects on several backfat thickness measurements. Novel effects of both LEP and LEPR polymorphisms on fatty acid composition in subcutaneous fat have been detected, probably mediated through the effects on fatness. The results reported here suggest that the T alleles of both LEP g.1387C>T and LEPR c.1987C>T, which are fixed in the Iberian pigs, would lead to an increase in growth, fatness and saturated fatty acid content in fat, which could be explained by an increased feed intake.
authors.affiliation: Department Mejora Genética Animal, INIA, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez-Montarelo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Folch
authors.forename: R N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ovilo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Silió
authors.forename: A I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D005838:Genotype; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin