title: Polymorphisms of the porcine cathepsins, growth hormone-releasing hormone and leptin receptor genes and their association with meat quality traits in Ukrainian Large White breed.
abstract: Cathepsins, growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes have been receiving increasing attention as potential markers for meat quality and pig performance traits. This study investigated the allele variants in four cathepsin genes (CTSB, CTSK, CTSL, CTSS), GHRH and LEPR in pure-bred Ukrainian Large White pigs and evaluated effects of the allele variants on meat quality characteristics. The study was conducted on 72 pigs. Genotyping was performed using PCR-RFLP technique. Meat quality characteristics analysed were intramuscular fat content, tenderness, total water content, ultimate pH, crude protein and ashes. A medium level of heterozygosity values was established for GHRH and LEPR genes which corresponded to very high levels of informativeness indexes. Cathepsins CTSL, CTSB and CTSK had a low level of heterozygosity, and CTSS did not segregate in this breed. Association studies established that intramuscular fat content and tenderness were affected by the allele variance in GHRH and LEPR but not by CTSB and CTSL genes. The GHRH results could be particularly relevant for the production of lean prime cuts as the A allele is associated with both, a lower meat fat content and better tenderness values, which are two attributes highly regarded by consumers. Results of this study suggest that selective breeding towards GHRH/AA genotype would be particularly useful for improving meat quality characteristics in the production systems involving lean Large White lines, which typically have less than 2 % intramuscular fat content.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, Shvedska Mogila 1, Poltava, 36013, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Balatsky
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, Shvedska Mogila 1, Poltava, 36013, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bankovska
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Production, University of Lleida-Agrotecnio Centre, Av Alcalde Rovira Roure 191, 25198, Lleida, Spain.
authors.forename: Ramona N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Pena
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, Shvedska Mogila 1, Poltava, 36013, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Artem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saienko
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, Shvedska Mogila 1, Poltava, 36013, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Tetyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Buslyk
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genetics, Institute of Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production, National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine, Shvedska Mogila 1, Poltava, 36013, Ukraine.
authors.forename: Sergii
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Korinnyi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological, Biomedical and Analytical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Applied Sciences, Centre for Research in Biosciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, Bristol, BS16 1QY, UK. Olena.doran@uwe.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Olena
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Doran
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity; D000818:Animals; D002403:Cathepsins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D034421:Sus scrofa / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D002403:Cathepsins
keywords: Association study; Genotyping; Meat quality traits; Pig; Polymorphisms