Development of efficient gene markers that can be used to improve the fat deposition traits in pigs.

在本研究中，我们分析了猪肥胖候选基因的同源序列变异，以期开发出可用于改善猪脂肪沉积性状的有效基因标记。选择前促生长素(GHRL)、生长激素促分泌素受体(GHSR)、瘦素受体(LEPR)和G蛋白偶联受体120(GPR120)基因作为研究对象。GHRL基因c.335C&GT；A多态与肌内脂肪和背部脂肪厚度无关。然而，先前报道的LEPR基因c.2002C&gt；T(现为c.1987C&gt；T)多态与本研究人群的背脂厚度显著相关，因此，我们证实该多态可能是一个有效的基因标记。此外，我们还成功地开发了一种简单的这种多态的基因分型方法。

In the present study, we analyzed sequence variations in pig homolog of candidate genes for human obesity in order to develop efficient gene markers that can be used to improve the fat deposition traits in pigs. The preproghrelin (GHRL), growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR), leptin receptor (LEPR), and G-protein coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) genes were selected to study. The c.335C>A polymorphism in GHRL gene was not associated with intra-muscular fat and back fat thickness. However, previously reported c.2002C>T (now c.1987C>T) polymorphism in LEPR was significantly associated with back fat thickness in our study population, and thus, we confirmed that this polymorphism could be an effective gene marker. Furthermore, we have succeeded in developing a simple genotyping method for this polymorphism.