Effects of Melanocortin-4 Receptor Gene on Growth and Meat Traits in Pigs Raised in Russia

Abstract

Тhe Melanocortin-4 Receptor (MC4R), a G-protein coupled receptor, is implicated in mediating the effect of leptin on food intake and energy balance. A previous candidate gene study reported an association between an MC4R polymorphism (Asp298Asn) and growth and meat productive traits of pigs. The aim of this work was to determine frequencies of the MC4R/Taq I genotypes and alleles in Danish Landrace (LD), Canadian Landrace (LC) and crossbred pigs Danish Landrace × Canadian Landrace (LD × LC) in breeding Cent "Plemzavod Jubilee" (Tyumen) Russia and to estimate their associations with some growth and meat traits. The polymorphism was identified by PCR-RFLP method. The traits studied were: Number of days to 100-kg, Average Daily Gain (ADG), Backfat Thickness (BFT), average daily Feed Intake (FI) and Length of Body (LB). In the all test groups we found a higher frequency of G allele (0.71) compared with the A allele (0.29). The results of present study suggest that the MC4R gene contributes to Days to 100 kg, ADG and BF. The heterozygous genotype AG was favorable in LD breed. The significant effects of-1.43 (LD male) and-2.81(LD female) for Days to 100 kg and of+61.17 (LD male) and +26.3 (LD female) for ADG were calculated. The homozygous genotype GG was favorable in crossbred LD × LC. The significant effects of +74.2 for ADG and-1.5 for BF were calculated. Therefore, the data support a role for the MC4R Asp298Asn polymorphism in the genetic basis of economically important traits in pigs of Russia. Further research is needed to determine the effect of this gene on growth, meat and reproduction traits in pigs of different breeds and crosses.

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

“…Previously research on pure-bred Landrace pigs showed a positive effect of AG/MC4R on Days to 100 kg and crossbred pigs of GG/MC4R had increased BF values (Klimenko et al, 2014). 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).…”

“…The porcine MC4R gene is located on Chr 1. Several studies have investigated the impact of MC4R gene polymorphism on growth and meat traits of pigs (Kim et al, 2000;Bruun et al, 2006;Klimenko et al, 2014;Van den Broeke et al, 2015). However, the main focus of the study is the effects of MC4R gene on growth and meat traits, but there are practically no data about influence of MC4R gene polymorphisms on reproductive traits of pigs.…”

Polymorphism of the GDF9 Gene in Russian Sheep Breeds

“…Marker selection is an important trend in practical genetics (Marker Assisted Selection -MAS), suggesting the use of DNA markers associated with productivity traits [3,4]. The DNA marker-based technologies are widely applied in national breeding programs in several countries with developed sheep breeding [5,6].…”

Sal breed of sheep 65 years

“…и др., которые считали, что при этом обогащается наследственность, расшатывается и ломается нежелательный наследственный консерватизм и получается приплод животных с более обогащенной и гибкой к внешним условиям наследствен ностью [8,9]. Последовательная работа спе циалистов и руководителей треста конных заводов увенчалась успехом [10].…”