Confirmed association between a single nucleotide polymorphism in the FTO gene and obesity-related traits in heavy pigs

The fat mass and obesity associated gene (FTO) is associated with obesity-related traits inhuman. We recently showed that a polymorphism in intron 3 of the porcine FTO gene (AM931150:g.276T>G) is associated with fat deposition traits in pigs. To confirm this result, we genotyped theg.276T>G polymorphism in an Italian Duroc population made up by 313 different performancetested pigs with known estimated breeding values (EBVs) for average daily gain, back fat thickness(BFT), feed:gain ratio, lean cuts (LC), and visible intermuscular fat (VIF, a measure ofintermuscular fat in the hams). In addition, we genotyped 148 commercial heavy pigs for whichseveral fat deposition traits (intramuscular fat in different muscles, BFT and a measure ofintermuscular fat in the hams) and lean meat percentage were measured. The results of theassociation analyses confirmed the effect of the FTO mutation on obesity-related traits (VIF, BFTand LC) in the Italian Duroc pigs (P<0.01) and in the commercial pigs (intramuscular fat content ofdifferent muscles, P<0.05 or P<0.10; lean meat content, P<0.05; BFT, P<0.05; intermuscular fatcontent in the hams, P<0.05). Conservation of the effects between pigs and human may help inelucidating the role of this gene in obesity.