Abstract
BackgroundFatty acid composition contributes importantly to meat quality and is essential to the nutritional value of the meat. Identification of genetic factors underlying levels of fatty acids can be used to breed for pigs with healthier meat. The aim of this study was to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify QTL regions affecting fatty acid composition in backfat from the pig breeds Duroc and Landrace.ResultsUsing data from the Axiom porcine 660 K array, we performed GWAS on 454 Duroc and 659 Landrace boars for fatty acid phenotypes measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology (C16:0, C16:1n-7, C18:0, C18:1n-9, C18:2n-6, C18:3n-3, total saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids). Two QTL regions on SSC4 and SSC14 were identified in Duroc for the de novo synthesized fatty acids traits, whereas one QTL on SSC8 was detected in Landrace for C16:1n-7. The QTL region on SSC14 has been reported in previous studies and a putative causative mutation has been suggested in the promoter region of the SCD gene. Whole genome re-sequencing data was used for genotype imputation and to fine map the SSC14 QTL region in Norwegian Duroc. This effort confirms the location of the QTL on this chromosome as well as suggesting other putative candidate genes in the region. The most significant single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located on SSC14 explain between 55 and 76% of the genetic variance and between 27 and 54% of the phenotypic variance for the de novo synthesized fatty acid traits in Norwegian Duroc. For the QTL region on SSC8 in Landrace, the most significant SNP explained 19% of the genetic variance and 5% of the phenotypic variance for C16:1n-7.ConclusionsThis study confirms a major QTL affecting fatty acid composition on SSC14 in Duroc, which can be used in genetic selection to increase the level of fatty acid desaturation. The SSC14 QTL was not segregating in the Landrace population, but another QTL on SSC8 affecting C16:1n-7 was identified and might be used to increase the level of desaturation in meat products from this breed.
Highlights
Fatty acid composition contributes importantly to meat quality and is essential to the nutritional value of the meat
The most significant Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) for C16:0 and saturated fatty acids (SFA) was rs318243431, which is located at position 120,643,956 bp on SSC14 within intron 3 of the carboxypeptidase N subunit 1 (CPN1) gene
The most significant SNP for C18:0, C18:1n-9 and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) was rs318695446, which is located at position 121,401,766 bp on SSC14, in an intergenic region between the genes stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) and paired box 2
Summary
Fatty acid composition contributes importantly to meat quality and is essential to the nutritional value of the meat. Identification of genetic factors underlying levels of fatty acids can be used to breed for pigs with healthier meat. The aim of this study was to conduct genome-wide association studies (GWAS) to identify QTL regions affecting fatty acid composition in backfat from the pig breeds Duroc and Landrace. The fatty acid composition of meat is important for its nutritional properties influencing human health, while affecting the technical and sensory quality of meat products [1]. Fatty acid composition is important for meat quality, and high levels of PUFA negatively impacts meat quality traits such as oxidative stability and flavor [2]. Increasing the content of the MUFA C18:1n-9, could improve both organoleptic and technological qualities as well as nutritional properties [7, 8]
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