A new single nucleotide polymorphism in the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) myostatin (MSTN) gene is associated with carcass composition traits. (2nd May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Sternstein, Ina; Reissmann, Monika; Maj, Dorota; Bieniek, Josef; Brockmann, Gudrun A.
• Is Part Of: Animal genetics. Volume 45:Number 4(2014:Aug.)
• Page Start: 596
• Page End: 599
• Publication Date: 2014-05-02
• Subjects: Animal genetics -- Periodicals; 572.8
• DOI: 10.1111/age.12165
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0268-9146

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="age12165-abs-0001"> <title>Summary</title> <p>This study aimed at the identification of genetic variations in the <italic>myostatin</italic> (<italic>MSTN</italic>) gene and testing their effects on carcass quality traits. We comparatively sequenced Giant Grey (GG) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits that were founders of a cross‐bred population. Alignment of our sequence data with the GenBank sequence of the rabbit <italic>MSTN</italic> gene (Ensembl Gene ID ENSOCUG00000012663) identified three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The two novel SNPs (c.−125T&gt;C, c.373+234G&gt;A) and one known SNP (c.747+34C&gt;T) were subsequently analysed for linkage with carcass composition traits in 363 F₂ animals of the cross GG × NZW. Significant linkage was found between c.373+234G&gt;A and nine carcass composition traits (<italic>P </italic>&lt;<italic> </italic>0.05). No significant effects were found for c.−125T&gt;C and c.747+34C&gt;T. Because the linked SNP is located in intron 1 and no genetic variation was found in the coding region, further investigations are necessary to understand the functional effect of the c.373+234G&gt;A variant on the variability of the traits.</p> </abstract>