Analysis of the Genetic Effects of Three Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms on Inosine Monophosphate Content in Chinese Baier Chicken

Abstract

The genes GPAT/AIRC and purH are involved in the de novo purine biosynthesis; they all had genetic effect on muscle inosine monophosphate (IMP) content in chicken. This study was designed to investigate the effects of three single nucleotide polymorphisms distributed in GPAT/AIRC and purH genes on muscle IMP content in a relative large population of Chinese Baier chickens, single genotype effects as well as the epistatic effects were analysed. The results further showed that GPAT/AIRC and purH genes had effect on muscle IMP content, they might be candidate loci or linked to major genes that affect muscle IMP content; the epistatic effects were higher than the single genotype effects. Furthermore, the effects were strengthened when combining more gene loci. We tentatively conclude that combined genotypes are superior to single genotypes as potential molecular markers for meat quality traits in chicken.