title: The identification of 14 new genes for meat quality traits in chicken using a genome-wide association study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Meat quality is an important economic trait in chickens. To identify loci and genes associated with meat quality traits, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of F2 populations derived from a local Chinese breed (Beijing-You chickens) and a commercial fast-growing broiler line (Cobb-Vantress).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the present study, 33 association signals were detected from the compressed mixed linear model (MLM) for 10 meat quality traits: dry matter in breast muscle (DMBr), dry matter in thigh muscle (DMTh), intramuscular fat content in breast muscle (IMFBr), meat color lightness (L*) and yellowness (b*) values, skin color L*, a* (redness) and b* values, abdominal fat weight (AbFW) and AbFW as a percentage of eviscerated weight (AbFP). Relative expressions of candidate genes identified near significant signals were compared using samples of chickens with High and Low phenotypic values. A total of 14 genes associated with IMFBr, meat color L*, AbFW, and AbFP, were differentially expressed between the High and Low phenotypic groups. These genes are, therefore, prospective candidate genes for meat quality traits: protein tyrosine kinase (TYRO3) and microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (MGST1) for IMFBr; collagen, type I, alpha 2 (COL1A2) for meat color L*; and RET proto-oncogene (RET), natriuretic peptide B (NPPB) and sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1) for the abdominal fat (AbF) traits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on the association signals and differential expression of nearby genes, 14 candidate loci and genes for IMFBr, meat L* and b* values, and AbF are identified. The results provide new insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying meat quality traits in chickens.
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yanfa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Guiping
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Ranran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Maiqing
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yaodong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wen
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger