QTL and candidate gene analysis of energy and lipid metabolism in swine

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic background of lipid-related traits in pigs. For this purpose QTL (quantitative trait loci) for carcass composition, growth, meat quality and fatty acid composition were analyzed and the effects of candidate genes including the gene for pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase, isozyme 4 (PDK4), insulin induced gene 2 (INSIG2) and fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) on lipid deposition traits were investigated. The studies were carried out in a Mangalitsa x Pietrain cross. The candidate genes were annotated, re-sequenced and screened for genetic variants. The analyses revealed several associations between candidate gene polymorphisms and the investigated traits.