Association of PPARGC1A and CAPNS1 gene polymorphisms and expression with meat quality traits in pigs.

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the genes PPARGC1A (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-coactivator 1A) and CAPNS1 (calpain small subunit 1) as candidate genes affecting meat quality traits in pigs. Four polymorphisms were identified in PPARCG1A and three in C APNS1 . The PPARGC1A polymorphism c.1288T > A was associated with pH and cooking loss in a F2 Duroc × Pietrain experimental cross (DuPi, n = 313) and with pH values in Italian Large White (ILW, n = 380) and Italian Landrace (ILA, n = 158) populations ( P CAPNS1 polymorphism c.429A > C was associated with pH and conductivity in DuPi and with meat color in ILA ( P PPARGC1A mRNA expression associated with drip loss ( P CAPNS1 ( P  = 0.06). The promoter methylation profiling suggested that methylation is not involved in CAPNS1 expression regulation. In conclusion, porcine PPARGC1A and CAPNS1 genes may affect meat quality traits, with breed-specific differences, and they could be used as markers for the improvement of meat quality in pigs.