Whole Genome Association Study on Meat Production Traits in the Pig Using Compressed Mixed Linear Model

Loin eye area (LEA) and average backfat thickness (BFT) are two important meat production traits in the pig, which affect the economic benefits in commercial pig farm. A total of 208 individuals from a F2 population with these two traits were selected for GWA Study by using Compressed Mixed Linear Model (CMLM). Principle component analysis showed that there was no significant population stratification. For LEA, a total of 41 SNPs with great significant (p<0.001) association were identified, which distributed on SSC7, 9, 10, 14 and X. Nine candidate genes were proposed after gene annotation. A gene named DOCK11-like, which encodes Guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (GEF) that participates in the regulation of cell cycle by activating CDC42. For average BFT, there were 19 significant associations. The most significantly associated regions were located on SSC2, 5, 7, 8 and 12. Among the candidate regions, five candidate genes were proposed. There was a gene named PITPNC1, which encodes a cytoplasmic protein, plays an important role in multiple processes including cell signaling and lipid metabolism by facilitating the transfer of phosphatidylinositol between membrane compartments.