Chromosomal assignments for porcine genes encoding enzymes in hepatic metabolic pathways

SNP detection and genetic mapping of porcine genes encoding enzymes in hepatic metabolic pathways and evaluation of linkage with carcass traits

We have previously identified and mapped porcine expressed sequence tags (ESTs) derived from genes that are preferentially expressed in liver. The aim of the present study was to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in porcine genes encoding enzymes in hepatic metabolic pathways and use the SNPs for mapping. Furthermore, these genes, which are involved in utilization and partitioning of nutrients, were examined for their effects on carcass and meat quality traits by linkage analyses. In total, 100 ESTs were screened for SNPs by single strand conformation polymorphism analyses across a diverse panel of animals with a 36% success rate. Twelve of 36 polymorphic loci segregated in a three-generation Duroc x Berlin Miniature Pig (F2) resource population, the DUMI resource population, and were genetically mapped. Interval mapping of the corresponding chromosomes was performed to verify mapping of the genes within quantitative trait loci (QTL) regions detected in this resource population. QTL with genome-wide significance were detected in the vicinity of GNMT, ESTL147 and HGD. These loci therefore are positional candidate genes.

Identification of functional candidate genes for body composition by expression analyses and evidencing impact by association analysis and mapping

This study aims to identify hepatic genes affecting traits related to muscularity and obesity by combining expression analyses, association studies, and gene mapping. Functional candidate genes with trait-associated expression were obtained by hybridising custom made application-specific cDNA microarrays with targets of discordant sib pairs of a porcine experimental population. Out of 238 genes addressed, nine genes were regulated by the factor>or=2 between the sib pairs. Differential gene expression was independently confirmed for selected genes by real time RT-PCR. Transcript levels of four genes (APOH, PEDF, SLCO1B3, TBG) were significantly different between the phenotype groups. Screening for trait associated markers within TBG and APOH by comparative sequencing of discordant sib pairs revealed a SNP at position nt 778 (A>C) (N229H) of TBG. No polymorphism in APOH was detected. Association analysis confirmed effects of TBG on carcass traits statistically. Allocating TBG to a QTL region on chromosome X revealed genetic evidence for the effect. Moreover, our results indicate that there are probably two polymorphisms segregating-one (N229H) altering binding capability of TBG and another still to be detected altering the transcription rate of TBG.

Comparative mapping of human chromosome 10 to pig chromosomes 10 and 14

Identification of predictive markers in QTL regions that impact production traits in commercial populations of swine is dependent on construction of dense comparative maps with human and mouse genomes. Chromosomal painting in swine suggests that large genomic blocks are conserved between pig and human, while mapping of individual genes reveals that gene order can be quite divergent. High-resolution comparative maps in regions affecting traits of interest are necessary for selection of positional candidate genes to evaluate nucleotide variation causing phenotypic differences. The objective of this study was to construct an ordered comparative map of human chromosome 10 and pig chromosomes 10 and 14. As a large portion of both pig chromosomes are represented by HSA10, genes at regularly spaced intervals along this chromosome were targeted for placement in the porcine genome. A total of 29 genes from human chromosome 10 were mapped to porcine chromosomes 10 (SSC10) and 14 (SSC14) averaging about 5 Mb distance of human DNA per marker. Eighteen genes were assigned by linkage in the MARC mapping population, five genes were physically assigned with the IMpRH mapping panel and seven genes were assigned on both maps. Seventeen genes from human 10p mapped to SSC10, and 12 genes from human 10q mapped to SSC14. Comparative maps of mammalian species indicate that chromosomal segments are conserved across several species and represent syntenic blocks with distinct breakpoints. Development of comparative maps containing several species should reveal conserved syntenic blocks that will allow us to better define QTL regions in livestock.

Improving the comparative map of porcine chromosome 10 with respect to human chromosomes 1, 9 and 10

ZOO-FISH mapping shows human chromosomes 1, 9 and 10 share regions of homology with pig chromosome 10 (SSC10). A more refined comparative map of SSC10 has been developed to help identify positional candidate genes for QTL on SSC10 from human genome sequence. Genes from relevant chromosomal regions of the public human genome sequence were used to BLAST porcine EST databases. Primers were designed from the matching porcine ESTs to assign them to porcine chromosomes using the INRA somatic cell hybrid panel (INRA-SCHP) and the INRA-University of Minnesota Radiation Hybrid Panel (IMpRH). Twenty-eight genes from HSA1, 9 and 10 were physically mapped: fifteen to SSC10 (ACO1, ATP5C1, BMI1, CYB5R1, DCTN3, DNAJA1, EPHX1, GALT, GDI2, HSPC177, OPRS1, NUDT2, PHYH, RGS2, VIM), eleven to SSC1 (ADFP, ALDHIB1, CLTA, CMG1, HARC, PLAA, STOML2, RRP40, TESK1, VCP and VLDLR) and two to SSC4 (ALDH9A1 and TNRC4). Two anonymous markers were also physically mapped to SSC10 (SWR1849 and S0070) to better connect the physical and linkage maps. These assignments have further refined the comparative map between SSC1, 4 and 10 and HSA1, 9 and 10.

Comparative mapping in the pig: localization of 214 expressed sequence tags

In total, 214 ESTs (Expressed Sequence Tags) were assigned to the porcine gene map by using somatic cell hybrid mapping, radiation hybrid mapping, and FISH. The ESTs were isolated from a porcine small intestine cDNA library on the basis of significant sequence identity with human annotated genes. In total, 390 primer pairs were designed primarily in the 3' UTR of the sequences. Overall, 58.6% of the ESTs were successfully mapped by this approach. In total, 191 of the localizations are in agreement with the human comparative map, strongly indicating that these represent true orthologous genes. The remaining 23 ESTs provide new comparative mapping data, which should be considered as preliminary until confirmed by other studies. Our mapping efforts provide a significant contribution to the porcine map as well as to the comparative map for human and pig.