Abstract

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is the first identified imprinted gene, which is paternally expressed in multiple mammalian species. A paternally expressed QTL for muscle growth and backfat thickness (BFT) has previously been identified near the IGF2 locus on the distal tip of pig chromosome 2 (SSC2p). Therefore the IGF2 gene is considered an economically important candidate gene for pig industry. Herein, this study explored genetic variation of IGF2 for in3-G3072A, in7-G162C and a new SNP in intron7 (C1589T) in Korean native pig (KNP) and commercial pig breeds, and detected their linkage disequilibrium within these breeds. Furthermore we investigated the effect of in3-G3072A on IGF2 gene expression in post-natal muscle and backfat tissues. The real-time quantitative PCR results showed that animals inherited allele G from a KNP sire had significant higher IGF2 gene expression in backfat tissue than those inherited allele A from a Yorkshire sire, however opposite situation in muscle. These results demonstrated the allele 3072G is associated with a higher IGF2 gene expression in fat tissues, but low gene expression in muscle tissues when compared with the 3072A allele. These results suggest that KNP with lower muscle mass and higher fat deposition might be associated with a higher frequency of the 3072G allele, and selecting KNP based on IGF2 genotypes could result in an economic benefit to KNP producers.

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