Correlations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in FABP4 and meat quality and lipid metabolism gene expression in Yanbian yellow cattle

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 24;15(6):e0234328. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234328. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

FABP4 is a candidate gene for carcass and meat quality traits in livestock and poultry. However, the effects of FABP4 have not been examined in the Yanbian yellow cattle, an economically important local cattle breed in China. In this study, we characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in FABP4 in this cattle breed and their associations with meat quality traits. Six SNPs (referred to as SNP1-6) were identified in FABP4 by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The six SNPs were significantly correlated with meat quality traits. In particular, the GG and GA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with water and fat contents and GG and AA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with protein contents (P < 0.05). The fat content and marbling in heterozygous individuals at SNP2-6 were significantly higher than those in wild-type or mutant individuals (P < 0.05), while protein content was significantly higher in wild-type and mutant individuals than in heterozygous individuals (P < 0.05). A gene expression analysis indicated that the lipid metabolism-related genes FABP4, PPARγ, ANGPTL4, and LPL show similar expression patterns with respect to FABP4 genotypes, with the highest levels in wild-type individuals and the lowest levels in mutants. In conclusion, FABP4 SNPs can be used for marker-assisted selection in Yanbian yellow cattle breeding.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle / genetics*
  • China
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Female
  • Food Quality
  • Gene Expression / genetics
  • Gene Frequency / genetics
  • Genetic Association Studies / methods
  • Genotype
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics*
  • Male
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / genetics
  • Red Meat / analysis
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA / methods

Substances

  • FABP4 protein, human
  • Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins

Grants and funding

The research was supported by Key scientific and technological projects of Jilin Provincial Science and technology development plan (20160204017NY); scientific and technological projects of the 13th five year plan of Jilin Provincial Department of Education (JJKH20180903KJ).(http://kjt.jl.gov.cn/http://jyt.jl.gov.cn/).The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.