The GGT1 and IGFBP5 genes are associated with fat deposition traits in the pig (Brief Report)

Abstract. In the earlier comparative linkage mapping of bone-related genes in the pig, the Gamma glutamyl transferase 1 (GGT1) gene was assigned between SWC6 and SWR84 on SSC14, and Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5) gene was mapped between SW120 and SW936 on SSC15 (ONTERU et al. 2008). QTL related to average backfat and 10th rib backfat traits had been reported around these regions (http://www.animalgenome.org/cgi-bin/QTLdb, ROHRER et al. 1998, DE KONING et al. 2001, MALEK et al. 2001). Both genes did not have association with any of body conformation, feet and leg structure traits (FAN et al. 2009), but it is worth exploring whether they are associated with fatness. Here we carried out association analyses of the identified SNPs from the genes in two pig populations and investigated the possible effect of them on fat deposition traits.