Mutations in the GDF8 Gene in Double-Muscled Cattle: Mechanisms of Action and Relevance for Livestock Production

Abstract

Myostatin (MSTN) has the function of limiting muscle growth, keeping satellite cells quiescent and acting on cell development, proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, migration and apoptosis. The mutation in the GDF8 gene proved to be advantageous as it presents some important attributes for the production of beef cattle, such as: gains in feed conversion and meat quality, making the meat leaner and more tender, resulting in intense selection for use in crossing programs in Brazil and around the world. We carried out a literature review on the mutation in the GDF8 gene in different breeds of Double Muscled cattle. We evaluated the frequency of polymorphisms present in research and observed that Indel c. 818 and MSTN-F94L were the markers most used in research. The MSTN-F94L polymorphism influenced musculature in the Jersey-Limousin backcross population. Furthermore, the polymorphism is strongly associated with the additive effect on birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight, in addition to increasing the ease of direct birth in pure or mixed breeds. GDF8 gene polymorphisms can be used to improve performance traits in beef cattle. However, the influence of these markers needs to be determined in each herd.