Abstract

In this study, genetic variation of the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) was detected by PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing in 618 individuals from five Chinese indigenous cattle breeds, and their genetic effects on meat quality traits were evaluated. The results showed that a novel single nucleotide polymorphism C1071T was detected in exon 5 and the allelic frequencies for the C and T alleles of the five breeds were 0.666/0.334, 0.583/0.417, 0.631/0.369, 0.653/0.347 and 0.689/0.311, respectively. Animals with CT genotype had higher mean values for backfat thickness than those with CC or TT genotypes (P < 0.01). Individuals with CC or CT genotypes had higher longissimus muscle area than those with TT genotype (P < 0.05). The FTO gene may be a candidate gene for identifying differences in meat quality traits and therefore, could be applied to marker-assisted selection of native Chinese cattle breeds.

Key words: Cattle, fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), meat quality traits.

Abbreviation

PCR, Polymerase chain reaction; SSCP, single-stranded conformation polymorphism; FTO, fat mass and obesity-associated gene; EDTA,ethylenediamine tetra acetic acid; PAGE, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; SNP,single nucleotide polymorphism; PIC, polymorphic information content; BFT,backfat thickness; LMA, longissimus muscle area; IMF, intramuscular fat content;MAR, marbling score.