Effect of missense mutation Asp298Asn in MC4R on growth and fatness traits in commercial pig crosses in the Czech Republic

Abstract

Abstract:The current knowledge of factors regulating voluntary feed intake in pigs is quite limited. The objective of this study was to test the influence of the missense mutation p.Asp298Asn (AF087937:c.746G>A) of the MC4R gene on selected production traits in pig crosses. These crosses are commonly used on commercial farms in the Czech Republic. The allele frequencies of c.746G>A were as follows: G allele -0.59 and A allele -0.41. We detected statistically significant differences in the content of intramuscular fat in the musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis, and a similar trend was observed in shoulder and neck. A allele correlated with higher values of fatness and G allele with a higher percentage of lean meat. However, we did not find any significant influence on either feed intake or growth rate in this study. For another mutation, p.Arg236His (NM_214173.1:c.707G>A), frequencies of alleles were disproportional (A allele -0.02 and G allele -0.98), only two genotypes were observed (AG and GG) and linkage disequilibrium was not detected. Therefore, we assume that the effect of this polymorphism on growth rate and fatness in the Czech population of pigs is negligible.

Exploring the genetics of feed efficiency and feeding behaviour traits in a pig line highly selected for performance characteristics

“…The obtained QTL for DFI and DOT located on SSC 1 pointed to the MC4R locus at 178.5 Mb which is widely discussed for contributions to the phenotypic variance of feeding behaviour traits and feed intake in pigs (Kim et al 2000 ). The proposed causal MC4R (Asp298Asn) mutation affects energy homeostasis influencing back fat thickness, weight gain, and feed intake but at the same time showing inconsistencies in its penetrance in different populations (Kim et al 2000 ; Piórkowska et al 2010 ; Dvořáková et al 2011 ). Moreover, the current and other studies provided evidence that the genomic region around MC4R includes other, potentially pleiotropic-acting, genetic variants influencing FE and feeding behaviour traits (Jiao et al 2014 ).…”

The Single and Combined Effect of <i>MC4R</i> and <i>GH</i> Genes on Productive Traits of Pigs

“…Most previous data have shown that A allelic variant of MC4R is associated with best value of Days to 100 kg, however G allele and especially GG/MC4R genotype is associated with improved BF and meat traits (Dvořáková et al, 2011;Munoz et al, 2011;Van den Broeke et al, 2015).…”

Association analysis of seven candidate genes with performance traits in Czech Large White pigs

“…Civáňová and Knoll (2007) reported a statistically significant association of the MC4R gene and lean meat content in the Black Pied Přeštice pigs (GA > AA, P ≤ 0.05), and Kim et al (2000) revealed the G allele association with lower backfat thickness, slower growth, and lower daily gain and lower feed intake in four different commercial lines of PIC (international pig breeding company) pigs derived from European/American breeds. Dvořáková et al (2011) found out an association between the G allele and higher values of lean meat content, muscle depth of musculus gluteus and musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis in the population that included seven commercial crosses and one pure breed. The influence of G allele was similar in our study and in the studies of Civáňová and Knoll (2007), Kim et al (2000) and Dvořáková et al (2011) in Black Pied Přeštice, European/American PIC pigs and commercial crosses, respectively.…”

“…Dvořáková et al (2011) found out an association between the G allele and higher values of lean meat content, muscle depth of musculus gluteus and musculus longissimus lumborum et thoracis in the population that included seven commercial crosses and one pure breed. The influence of G allele was similar in our study and in the studies of Civáňová and Knoll (2007), Kim et al (2000) and Dvořáková et al (2011) in Black Pied Přeštice, European/American PIC pigs and commercial crosses, respectively. On the other hand, the G allele was associated with the fattest animals in the line which was derived by crossing a Chinese (Meishan) breed with a line of Large White origin.…”