Replicated association of the single nucleotide polymorphism in EDG1 with marbling in three general populations of Japanese Black beef cattle

Abstract

BackgroundMarbling, defined by the amount and the distribution of intramuscular fat and measured as beef marbling score (BMS), is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. We recently reported that a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), namely, c.-312A>G, in the endothelial differentiation, sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor, 1 (EDG1) gene was associated with the BMS level in the Japanese Black beef cattle population of Oita prefecture, with the G allele being associated with a high level of the BMS. Thus, the c.-312A>G SNP seems to be a candidate marker for marker-assisted selection. In this study, we investigated whether this association could be replicated in 3 other independent Japanese Black cattle populations and analyzed the effect of the SNP genotypes on the carcass traits other than the BMS.FindingsStatistically significant differences in the BMS level were detected among the genotypes of the c.-312A>G SNP in the Japanese black beef cattle populations of Miyazaki (P = 0.0377) and Nagasaki (P = 0.0012) prefectures, and marginal difference was detected in the Kagoshima prefecture population (P = 0.0786). The G allele in the SNP was associated with an increase in the BMS level.The G allele also seemed to have a favorable influence, if any, on the carcass weight, rib eye area and rib thickness of the cattle populations.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that the association of the c.-312A>G SNP with the BMS level in the Japanese Black beef cattle population was replicated in other beef cattle populations, and revealed favorable effects of the G allele on the beef productivity in the general Japanese Black beef cattle population. Thus, we concluded that the c.-312A>G SNP is useful for effective marker-assisted selection to increase the BMS level in Japanese Black beef cattle.

Allele Frequency Distribution of the <i>NCAPG c</i>.1326<i>T</i>><i>G</i> SNP Associated with Growth-Related Traits in Niigata Population of Japanese Black Beef Cattle

“…Many QTLs for the growth-related trait are thought to be fixed for favorable alleles in the Kagoshima prefecture population [8]. We should note that the female population in Japanese Black cattle of the Niigata prefecture possesses the favorable allele (G allele) frequency at the c.1326T>G SNP, which is comparable to the data observed in the Kagoshima prefecture population [7].…”

A whole genome association study to detect additive and dominant single nucleotide polymorphisms for growth and carcass traits in Korean native cattle, Hanwoo

“…Of the significant SNPs for Marb, five SNPs were detected within a 19.2 Mb segment (between 61.5 Mb and 80.7 Mb) on BTA7. Twelve SNPs were located within the Marb QTL regions that were reported in previous studies [13,18,20]. Nine SNPs were harbored within the regions of known genes (Table 9).…”

“…Nine SNPs were harbored within the regions of known genes (Table 9). In particular, one SNP, Hapmap39048-BTA-99764 was located within EDG1 gene on BTA3, which was reported to be a positional function candidate gene responsible for marbling [20]. …”

Multiple marker effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms in three genes, AKIRIN2, EDG1 and RPL27A, for marbling development in Japanese Black cattle

“…2009a,c) and the Nipponfeed Co. Ltd. related farms in Kagoshima, Nagasaki and Miyazaki prefectures (Sukegawa et al . ). Because this SNP was not regarded as a direct causal mutation based on our reporter gene assay (Yamada et al .…”