Porcine perilipin (PLIN) gene: Structure, polymorphism and association study in Large White pigs
Perilipin, encoded by the <I>PLIN</I> gene, is a lipid droplet-associated phosphoprotein that functions as a key regulator of triacylglycerol storage and hydrolysis in adipocytes. In this study, structure and variability of the porcine <I>PLIN</I> gene were characterised. PCR fragments encompassing exons 1 to 9 and interspersed introns were sequenced and the obtained sequence was deposited in EMBL/GenBank/DDBJ databases (AM931171). Seven silent polymorphisms and one nonsynonymous polymorphism were detected in the coding sequence. The nonsynonymous polymorphism g.627G>A causing an amino acid substitution p.Val3Ile was found only in Meishan and Meishan × Piétrain cross. Associations were studied between loci g.4119A>G and g.7966T>C, and average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BFT) or lean meat content (LMC) in 166 gilts from two herds. Due to supposed complete linkage disequilibrium between loci g.4119A>G and g.7966T>C only genotype combinations <I>AA-TT, AG-TC</I> and <I>GG-CC</I> were detected. A significant difference (<I>P</I> = 0.0290) between <I>GG-CC</I> and <I>AG-TC</I> genotype combinations for BFT in herd 2 and a suggestive difference (<I>P</I> = 0.0516) between <I>GG-CC</I> and <I>AA-TT</I> genotypes for ADG in herd 1 were detected.