title: A Deletion in the Canine POMC Gene Is Associated with Weight and Appetite in Obesity-Prone Labrador Retriever Dogs.
abstract: Sequencing of candidate genes for obesity in Labrador retriever dogs identified a 14 bp deletion in pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) with an allele frequency of 12%. The deletion disrupts the β-MSH and β-endorphin coding sequences and is associated with body weight (per allele effect of 0.33 SD), adiposity, and greater food motivation. Among other dog breeds, the deletion was only found in the closely related flat-coat retriever (FCR), where it is similarly associated with body weight and food motivation. The mutation is significantly more common in Labrador retrievers selected to become assistance dogs than pets. In conclusion, the deletion in POMC is a significant modifier of weight and appetite in Labrador retrievers and FCRs and may influence other behavioral traits.
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address: er311@cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Eleanor
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Raffan
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Rowena J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Dennis
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Conor J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: O'Donovan
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: MRC Epidemiology Unit, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0SP, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Claire J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Conci
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK; The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Dylan N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK.
authors.forename: Kim M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Summers
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ageing and Chronic Disease, University of Liverpool, Neston, Cheshire CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: Alexander J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: German
authors.affiliation: Department of Canine Genetics, Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk CB8 7UU, UK.
authors.forename: Cathryn S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Mellersh
authors.affiliation: IMBIM, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75123, Sweden.
authors.forename: Maja L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Arendt
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Valentine P
authors.initials: VP
authors.lastname: Iyemere
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Withers
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
authors.forename: Josefin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Söder
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wernersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala 75123, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lindblad-Toh
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK.
authors.forename: Giles S H
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: University of Cambridge Metabolic Research Laboratories, WT-MRC Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK. Electronic address: so104@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Rahilly
mesh_terms: D050154:Adiposity / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001066:Appetite / Q000235:genetics*; D020029:Base Pairing; D001483:Base Sequence; D001835:Body Weight / Q000235:genetics*; D019556:COS Cells; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004285:Dogs; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005838:Genotype; D009765:Obesity / Q000235:genetics*; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin / Q000378:metabolism; D019824:beta-MSH / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D044101:Receptors, Melanocortin; D019824:beta-MSH; D011333:Pro-Opiomelanocortin