title: Association between polymorphism in the FTO gene and growth and carcass traits in pig crosses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Independent studies have shown that several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the human FTO (fat mass and obesity associated) gene are associated with obesity. SNP have also been identified in the pig FTO gene, among which some are associated with selected fat-deposition traits in F2 crosses and commercial populations. In this study, using both commercial pig populations and an experimental Meishan × Pietrain F2 population, we have investigated the association between one FTO SNP and several growth and carcass traits. Association analyses were performed with the FTO polymorphism either alone or in combination with polymorphisms in flanking loci.
  
  
  METHODS
  SNP (FM244720:g.400C>G) in exon 3 of porcine FTO was genotyped by PCR-RFLP and tested for associations with some growth, carcass and fat-related traits. Proportions of genetic variance of four pig chromosome 6 genes (FTO, RYR1, LIPE and TGFB1) on selected traits were evaluated using single- and multi-locus models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Linkage analysis placed FTO on the p arm of pig chromosome 6, approximately 22 cM from RYR1. In the commercial populations, allele C of the FTO SNP was significantly associated with back fat depth and allele G with muscling traits. In the Meishan × Pietrain F2 pigs, heterozygotes with allele C from the Pietrain sows and allele G from the Meishan boar were more significantly associated with fat-related traits compared to homozygotes with allele G from the Pietrain and allele G from the Meishan breed. In single- and multi-locus models, genes RYR1, TGFB1 and FTO showed high associations. The contribution in genetic variance from the polymorphism in the FTO gene was highest for back fat depth, meat area on the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis tissues and metabolite glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results show that in pig, FTO influences back fat depth in the commercial populations, while in the Meishan × Pietrain F2 pigs with a CG genotype, heterosis occurs for several fat-related traits.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic, 277 21 Liběchov, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Věra
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dvořáková
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bartenschlager
authors.forename: Antonín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stratil
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Horák
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stupka
authors.forename: Jaroslav
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cítek
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sprysl
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hrdlicová
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Geldermann
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001415:Back / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D049308:Dioxygenases / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D056426:Genetic Loci; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D008957:Models, Genetic; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel / Q000235:genetics; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D019837:Ryanodine Receptor Calcium Release Channel; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D049308:Dioxygenases