title: The association of NR1H3 gene with lipid deposition in the pig.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nuclear receptor subfamily 1, group H, member 3 (NR1H3, an alias for Liver X receptor α, LXRα) is a member of the LXR nuclear receptor super family and is an important regulator of lipid and fatty acid accumulation in the liver, adipose and skeletal muscle.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from six populations of pig (Sus scrofa) were screened by PCR-sequencing and genotyped, and its association with backfat thickness was analyzed in a population of New Huai line (NHP, n = 117). In addition, quantitative real-time PCR and western blot were used to measure expression of NR1H3 in the liver tissue, backfat and longissimus dorsi muscle of DSP (n = 10), TP (n = 10) and YY (n = 10) pigs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three SNPs (exon2-C105T, exon2-G106C, and exon5-A201C) were screened and exon5-A201C was identified; the genotype frequencies were significantly different between indigenous and introduced breeds. The CC genotype was associated with higher backfat thickness than the AA and AC genotypes in the NYP. NR1H3 mRNA and protein expression were higher in the liver and longissimus dorsi of DSP and TP than in those of YY. This increased NR1H3 expression might be associated with higher lipid deposition. NR1H3 expression in the backfat of YY was not lower than that in DSP or TP, which might because NR1H3 has an alternative regulatory function for lipid metabolism in the subcutaneous fat of pigs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that allele A of the exon5-A201C in NR1H3 may promote a reduction in backfat thickness, and differences in NR1H3 expression may be associated with differences in lipid deposition capacity among pigs.
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Shang
authors.affiliation: College of Agriculture and Animal Husbandry, Tibet University, Linzhi, 860000, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yangzong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qiangba
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Aishi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhixiu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, China Agricultural University, No. 2 Yuanmingyuan West Rd., Beijing, 100193, People's Republic of China. zhanghao827@163.com.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D005091:Exons; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000235:genetics*; D000071518:Liver X Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D000071518:Liver X Receptors
keywords: Lipid deposition; NR1H3; Pig; SNP