GENETIC ANALYSIS OF UKRAINIAN LARGE WHITE PIG BREED BY POLYMORPHISMS IN RYR1, ESR1 AND PRLR GENES

Abstract

Marker-Assisted Selection is getting increasing attention in Ukrainian animal breeding as an effective tool for choosing animals with desirable traits. Identification of molecular markers which are related to major genes is a promising approach for improving economic traits and has to be checked for further gene-trait associations. Single nucleotide polymorphisms are genetic markers that can be associated with production traits. SNP genotyping has to be done additionally for each breed to see if they are polymorphic and have significant associations with certain traits. Among the candidate genes that influence the expression of productive traits, special attention is drawn to RYR1, ESR1 and PRLR genes. Gene RYR1 is associated with muscle hypertrophy and other meat quality defects in pigs. ESR1 and PRLR genes influence reproduction and affect the litter size in pigs. SNPs RYR1 g.1843 C>T, ESR1 SNP c.1227 C>T and PRLR g. 1789 G>A have been receiving increasing attention as potential markers for improving quality and pig performance traits. This study investigated the allele variants in three genes (RYR1, ESR1 and PRLR) in Ukrainian Large White pigs of different inside breed types (ULW-1 and ULW-2). The study was performed on 200 pigs. Genotyping was performed using PCR–RFLP method. SNP RYR1 g.1843 C>T was not polymorphic in ULW-1 and ULW-2 inside breed types, when ESR1 SNP c.1227 C> T and PRLR g. 1789 G>A were highly polymorphic. SNPs in ESR1 and PRLR genes had high PIC and χ2 values which indicates the relevance of further associative studies in ULW-1 and ULW-2. Informativeness of the genetic markers in ESR1 and PRLR genes was optimal for associative studies in Ukrainian Large White pig breed of first and second inside breed type.