title: Polymorphisms in the promoter region of myostatin gene are associated with carcass traits in pigs.
abstract: Higher average daily gain, more lean meat yield and less fat yield of porcine carcass increase selling profits for animal producers. Myostatin (MSTN), previously called GDF8, is a member of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily. It is a negative regulator for both embryonic development and adult homeostasis of skeletal muscle. In this study, the genotypes of the previously described SNPs MSTN g.435G>A and g.447A>G SNPs in 66 Duroc pigs, 33 Landrace pigs, 180 Duroc × Landrace (DL) pigs and 155 Duroc × Yorkshire × Landrace (DYL) pigs were determined by Taqman SNP Genotyping Assays. For Duroc and Landrace pigs, MSTN g.435GG/g.447AA individual had greater backfat thickness (p < 0.05) than g.435AA/g.447GG individual, whereas MSTN g.435AA/g.447GG had greater meat (p < 0.05) and meat percentage (p < 0.05) than g.435GA/g.447AG individual. For DL and DYL pigs, the MSTN g.435GG/g.447AA animals were greater in backfat at ultrasound 10th rib (p < 0.05) and carcass 10th rib (p < 0.01) than g.435AA/g.447GG individual. The MSTN g.435AA/g.447GG individual also had higher values than g.435GG/g.447AA for anterior-end meat (p < 0.05), posterior-end meat (p < 0.01), total meat weight (p < 0.01) and meat percentage (p < 0.01). This study confirmed evidence that MSTN g.435G>A and g.447A>G affected carcass traits in pigs. The effects of the mutated alleles were additive with the maximal effects resulting from two copies of the mutated allele. Selection for MSTN g.435A/g.447G allele is expected to increase muscle of limb and total meat production and decrease backfat thickness.
authors.affiliation: Hengchun Branch, Livestock Research Institute, Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan, Hengchun, Taiwan; Department of Animal Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: P-A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: L-L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: Y-C
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: C-C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: J-W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Shiau
authors.forename: E-C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: R-S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: P-H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060005:Genotyping Techniques; D055435:Myostatin / Q000235:genetics*; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D055435:Myostatin
keywords: Carcass trait; Myostatin (MSTN) gene; marker assisted selection; polymorphism; porcine