Pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) is a key regulatory enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. It is one of four pyruvate kinase isoenzymes that widely differ in their occurrence according to tissue type. PKM2 is expressed in differentiated tissues, such as fat tissues, lung, as well as normal proliferating cells, embryonic cells, and tumor cells. The objective of this study was to investigate the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the PKM2 gene with meat quality traits in Berkshire pigs. We detected a SNP (g.34341 A>G) in the 3'UTR region of the PKM2 gene in 670 Berkshire pigs through DNA sequencing. Three genotypes, AA, AG, and GG, were found for this SNP, but based on an association analysis with meat quality traits, genotype AA was significantly associated with thicker back fat than genotype GG (p=0.027). Therefore, the g.34341 A>G polymorphism in the 3'UTR region of the porcine PKM2 gene could be applied in pig breeding programs to improve back fat thickness.
We identified molecular markers associated with meat-quality traits in the porcine RPL27A (ribosomal protein L27a) gene. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were discovered in the porcine RPL27A gene: g.920T>C, g.1013T>C, and g.1046T>C. The g.920 T>C SNP was significantly associated with pH24 (P < 0.05) and collagen (P < 0.05), while the g.1013T>C and g.1046T>C SNPs were significantly associated with moisture (P < 0.05). Either the TTT or CCC haplotype was significantly associated with moisture, pH24 and collagen (P < 0.05, respectively). The genotypes of RPL27A associated with meat-quality traits were all located in intron 2. The three SNPs of the RPL27A found in this study will provide useful information for genetic characterization or association studies of meat-quality traits in other populations. Additionally, these markers could potentially be applied in pig breeding programs to improve meat-quality traits after validation in other populations.
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