Pig Breeding 2024 №3(82)

STUDY OF THE PLEIOTROPIC EFFECT OF THE VERTNIN (VRTN) GENE ON PIG PRODUCTIVITY TRAITS

UDC: [575.113+575.22]:[636.4+636.028]:577.213.3

DOI: 10.37143/2786-7730-2024-4(82)3

REFERENCES АРА style:Saienko, А. M., Akimov, O. V., Peka, M. Yu., Lobchenko, O. V., Dubinin, D. S., & Balatsky, V. N. (2024). Doslidzhennia pleiotropnoho efektu hena vertnynu (VRTN) na produktyvni oznaky svynei. [Study of the pleiotropic effect of the vertnin (VRTN) gene on pig productivity traits]. Svynarstvo i ahropromyslove vyrobnytstvo [Pig Breeding and Agroindustrial Production]. Poltava, 4(82), 38-49 [in Ukrainlnn]. doi: 10.37143/2786-7730-2024-4(82)3

A. M. Saienko Candidate of Agricultural Sciences, Senior Researcher, Head of the Genetics Laboratory
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0527-5367
E-mail:saenko_artem@meta.ua
Institute of Pig Breeding and agroindustrial production NAAS, Shvedska Mohyla Str., 1, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013
O. V. Akimov candidate of agricultural sciences, senior researcher, leading researcher, lab. breeding and selection of pigs
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1938-0459
E-mail:akimov.kharkiv@gmail.com
Institute of Pig Breeding and agroindustrial production NAAS, Shvedska Mohyla Str., 1, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013 NSC "Institute of Experimental and Clinical Veterinary Medicine" 83 Hryhoriia Skovoroda St., Kharkiv, Ukraine, 61023
M. Y. Peka researcher lab genetics
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0612-1164
E-mail:pekapoltava@gmail.com
Institute of Pig Breeding and agroindustrial production NAAS, Shvedska Mohyla Str., 1, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013
O. V. Lobchenko laboratory assistant
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8662-2012
E-mail:oleksandra.lobchenko@gmail.com
Institute of Pig Breeding and agroindustrial production NAAS, Shvedska Mohyla Str., 1, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013
D. S. DubininDoctor of Philosophy, Research Fellow, Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Physiology and Health,
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5547-1614
E-mail:dmytrudubinin4@gmai.com
2Institute o f Pig Breeding and Agro-Industrial Production o f the NAAS 1 Swedish Mogyla, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013
V. M. Balatsky doctor of agricultural sciences, senior researcher, professor, chief researcher of the lab. genetics
ORCID:https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6034-3852
E-mail:vnbalatsky@gmail.com
Institute of Pig Breeding and agroindustrial production NAAS, Shvedska Mohyla Str., 1, Poltava, Ukraine, 36013

Abstract

The study o f pleiotropic effects o f genes is important for optimizing animal breeding strategies and increasing the productivity o f farm animals. The vertnin gene (VRTN) is a candidate gene in a QTL on the seventh pig chromosome (SSC7), which affects the number o f thoracic vertebrae and has a pleiotropic effect on the number o f teats and body length. However, the potential pleiotropic effect o f this gene on other performance traits remains poorly understood. Given the implications o f genetic selection for animal breeding, it is important to investigate whether specific polymorphisms in the VRTN gene affect additional phenotypic traits, thereby helping to refine selection criteria. Objective. o f this study was to determine the genetic structure o f the Ukrainian Large White pig population based on the g.20311_20312ins291 polymorphism o f the VRTN gene and to establish its relationships with performance traits, particularly carcass weight, fat thickness, and ham weight. Methods. The study was conducted on Ukrainian Large White pigs. DNA was isolated using the Chelex 100 reagent. Genotyping for the g.20311_20312ins291 polymorphism in the VRTN gene was performed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, followed by electrophoretic separation in an agarose gel. Statistical analysis included a one-way analysis o f variance with Tukey's post hoc test to assess associations between genotypes (WW, WQ, QQ) and performance indicators. Results. The genotyping showed that the wild-type allele (W) prevailed in the studied population with a frequency o f 0.6, while the mutant allele (Q) had a frequency o f 0.4. Association analysis revealed a significant relationship between the g.20311 20312ins291 polymorphism and carcass weight (p = 0.004). Pigs with the WQ genotype had a statistically higher carcass weight before slaughter than animals with homozygous WW and QQ genotypes. No statistically significant association was found between the polymorphism and ham weight or fat thickness (p > 0.05), although WQ animals showed slightly higher mean values for these traits.Conclusions. The results confirm that the VRTN gene can have a pleiotropic effect on pig performance, particularly on carcass weight. Given the obtained trends towards statistical significance regarding the results o f associations o f the VRTN gene with ham weight andfat thickness, further research is advisable to clarify the full range o f the gene’s effects. Future studies should also investigate the potential pleiotropic effect o f the VRTN gene on other performance traits, such as meat quality parameters.

Key words: pleiotropic effect, vertnin, selection, genotyping, pigs, genes, polymorphism.

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