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Association of the melanocortin 4 receptor with feed intake and daily gain in F2 Mangalitsa × Piétrain pigs
Author(s) -
Meidtner K.,
Wermter AK.,
Hinney A.,
Remschmidt H.,
Hebebrand J.,
Fries R.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
animal genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.756
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2052
pISSN - 0268-9146
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2006.01414.x
Subject(s) - biology , melanocortin 4 receptor , association (psychology) , melanocortin 3 receptor , pi , melanocortin , weight gain , endocrinology , medicine , zoology , receptor , body weight , genetics , melanocortin receptor , biochemistry , philosophy , epistemology
Summary The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) is a key factor in the regulation of energy balance and body weight. Hence it is a candidate for feed intake and energy homeostasis‐related traits. Studies in humans and swine have revealed several sequence variants in the gene that are associated with some of these traits. In pigs the coding non‐synonymous missense variant Asp298Asn in MC4R has been associated with feed intake, fatness and growth. Here we confirm the association of this Piétrain‐derived polymorphism with feed intake and daily gain in the F2 generation of a Mangalitsa × Piétrain cross. In one Piétrain founder animal, we detected an additional non‐synonymous missense variant Arg236His. Thus, the MC4R gene could be a useful marker for increased growth in the relatively slow‐growing Piétrain breed.