Cloning and expression analysis of porcine <I>ACTA2</I> gene and its association with production traits

Abstract

To identify new DNA markers which have significant impact on pig production traits, the full coding sequence and partial genomic sequence of porcine ACTA2(Actin alpha 2)gene were isolated using in silico cloning and PCR. PCR-Hinf-RFLP was developed to detect C1554T substitution in intron 2. The frequency of allele C is higher than that of allele T in all the seven detected pig populations except for Large White and MeishanxLarge White. Association analysis of markers and production traits showed that the relation between ACTA2 gene and shoulder fat thickness, buttock fat thickness, fat meat percentage, lean meat percentage, meat pH (m.Biceps Femoris, BF), and intramuscular fat were significant or highly significant. Compared with CC genotype, TT had a higher lean meat percentage, a lower fat meat percentage and backfat thickness. Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that the expression level of ACTA2 gene in the skeletal muscle of Large White and Meishan pigs decreased with the increasing of days. And during each period, the expression level was higher in Meishan pigs than in Large White pigs.