Polymorphisms in the Perilipin Gene May Affect Carcass Traits of Chinese Meat-type Chickens.

Lu Zhang,Zhiqin Yang,Zhen Wang,Huadong Yin,Yan Wang,Yiping Liu,Elizabeth R Gilbert,Qing Zhu,Diyan Li,Xiaoling Zhao,Yuncong Yuan

doi:10.5713/ajas.14.0554

Abstract

Improved meat quality and greater muscle yield are highly sought after in high-quality chicken breeding programs. Past studies indicated that polymorphisms of the Perilipin gene (PLIN1) are highly associated with adiposity in mammals and are potential molecular markers for improving meat quality and carcass traits in chickens. In the present study, we screened single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in all exons of the PLIN1 gene with a direct sequencing method in six populations with different genetic backgrounds (total 240 individuals). We evaluated the association between the polymorphisms and carcass and meat quality traits. We identified three SNPs, located on the 5′ flanking region and exon 1 of PLIN1 on chromosome 10 (rs315831750, rs313726543, and rs80724063, respectively). Eight main haplotypes were constructed based on these SNPs. We calculated the allelic and genotypic frequencies, and genetic diversity parameters of the three SNPs. The polymorphism information content (PIC) ranged from 0.2768 to 0.3750, which reflected an intermediate genetic diversity for all chickens. The CC, CT, and TT genotypes influenced the percentage of breast muscle (PBM), percentage of leg muscle (PLM) and percentage of abdominal fat at rs315831750 (p<0.05). Diplotypes (haplotype pairs) affected the percentage of eviscerated weight (PEW) and PBM (p<0.05). Compared with chickens carrying other diplotypes, H3H7 had the greatest PEW and H2H2 had the greatest PBM, and those with diplotype H7H7 had the smallest PEW and PBM. We conclude that PLIN1 gene polymorphisms may affect broiler carcass and breast muscle yields, and diplotypes H3H7 and H2H2 could be positive molecular markers to enhance PEW and PBM in chickens.

Highlights

Consumption of poultry meat has grown rapidly over the last 50 years, as poultry meat is a high-quality dietary protein source for humans
We screened the genetic polymorphisms in all exons and partial introns of the chicken PLIN1 gene in six broiler populations to discern potential associations between the nucleotide polymorphisms and carcass traits, as well as intramuscular fat content (IMF)
Diets fed were 19% crude protein (CP) and 2,897 kcal of ME/kg from 1 to 28 d, 17% CP and 2,998 kcal of ME/kg from 28 to 43 d, and 15% CP and 3,819 kcal of ME/kg from 43 to 91 d, which satisfied the dietary requirement of yellow-feather chickens (Zhao et al, 2012)

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Consumption of poultry meat has grown rapidly over the last 50 years, as poultry meat is a high-quality dietary protein source for humans. Genetic variation in PLIN1 was associated with carcass traits and adiposity in humans (Ruiz et al, 2011), pigs (Gandolfi et al, 2011), cattle (Fan et al, 2010), sheep (Gao et al, 2012), ducks (Zhang et al, 2013), and chickens. We screened the genetic polymorphisms in all exons and partial introns of the chicken PLIN1 gene in six broiler populations to discern potential associations between the nucleotide polymorphisms and carcass traits, as well as intramuscular fat content (IMF)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION