Association of single‐nucleotide polymorphism of melanocortin gene with feed intake in rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of two parts of melanocortin gene (MC4R-1, MC4R-2) and feed intake for V-line rabbits. V-line rabbits were grouped into high and low daily feed intake during the period from 30 to 63 days of age in order to identify MC4R SNPs useful for association study with feed intake. DNA from blood samples of each group was extracted to amplify the MC4R gene. The purified PCR products were sequenced in those had the highest and lowest feed intake. Alignment of sequence data from each group revealed that there is a variation detected in MC4R-1 at nucleotide 35 (T-G) (sense mutation) and another variation was detected in MC4R-2 gene at nucleotide 19 (T-C) (sense mutation) for high feed intake rabbits. These sense mutations lead to transform some amino acids and cause a significant change of the MC4R function. The results of average daily feed intake (ADFI) indicated that group (1) had significantly higher feed intake than group (2) of V-line rabbits. The detected mutations and the analysis of daily feed intake means revealed a significant association between MC4R polymorphism and feed intake in rabbits.

Association of Melanocortin 4 Receptor gene polymorphism with growth traits in Bligon goat

“…The genotype of MC4R gene based on single nucleotide polymorphism has also been reported as genetic marker for body weight in female Beagle dogs (Zheng et al, 2014), sexual desire behavior, feed intake and finishing weight in rabbit (Fontanesi et al, 2013;El-Sabrout, 2017;El-Sabrout and Soliman, 2017), egg production in Langsan chicken (Yan et al, 2013), feed intake, body weight and ADG in yak (Cai et al, 2015), back fat thickness and marbling score in Korean cattle (Seong et al, 2012), birth body length in Kebumen cattle (Maharani et al, 2018), ADG, loin-eye area and meat quality in sheep (Zou et al, 2014) and milk production in buffalo (Deng et al, 2016). In the previous study, genetics analysis (SNPs detection, amino acid change, restriction enzyme mapping and phylogenetic tree) of MC4R gene were reported in Bligon goat (Latifah et al, 2017).…”

MC4R gene polymorphisms for classification of growth efficiency and carcass measurements in two rabbit breeds in Egypt

“…Interestingly, our study elicited novel SNPs in the MC4R gene associated with growth traits in rabbits. El-Sabrout & Soliman (2018) explained the relationship between two parts of the melanocortin gene (MC4R-1 and MC4R-2) and FI for V-line rabbits (low and high FI); they observed that the alignment of sequence data from each group revealed that there is a variation detected in MC4R-1 at nucleotide 35 (T-G) (sense mutation) and another variation was detected in MC4R-2 gene at nucleotide 19 (T-C) (sense mutation) for high feed intake rabbits. The MC4R gene's function is substantially altered as a result of these sense mutations, which modify certain amino acids.…”

Two co‐inherited novel SNPs in the MC4R gene related to live body weight and hormonal assays in Awassi and Arabi sheep breeds of Iraq

“…Indeed, oestrogen hormone is stimulating specific receptors in the pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the hypothalamus by the melanocortin system (Clegg et al., 2006). It has been reported that increased POMC levels result in more binding of α‐MSH to MC4R , promoting increased food intake and reduced energy expenditure in ewes (El‐Sabrout & Soliman, 2018; Hewagalamulage et al., 2015). Furthermore, females are more severely affected than males in weight increase (Vaisse et al., 2000).…”

“…It is expressed in the appetite-regulating areas of the brain that involve food intake, which can act as a critical mediator between appetite and reproduction in animals (Zandi et al, 2014). Thus, the MC4R gene can be a major mediator of leptin effects on food intake and body weight (El-Sabrout & Soliman, 2018;Hwa et al, 2001;Li & Li, 2006). The effects of the MC4R gene variation have been recently implicated in the rapid growth selection program of beef cattle (Prihandini & Maharani, 2019).…”