Research Article

Investigation of TG gene variants and their effects on growth, carcass composition, and meat quality traits in Chinese steers

Published: May 22, 2015
Genet. Mol. Res. 14 (2) : 5320-5326 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.May.22.2
Cite this Article:
L.P. Zhang, Q.F. Gan, G.Y. Hou, H.J. Gao, J.Y. Li, S.Z. Xu (2015). Investigation of TG gene variants and their effects on growth, carcass composition, and meat quality traits in Chinese steers. Genet. Mol. Res. 14(2): 5320-5326. https://doi.org/10.4238/2015.May.22.2
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Abstract

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism and can affect metabolism-related traits such as fat deposition. The thyroglobulin (TG) gene produces the precursor of thyroid hormones and has been proposed as a candidate gene for a quantitative trait locus with an effect on fat deposition. In this study, we identified 4 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5' flanking region of the TG gene using a DNA sequencing method. The SNP marker association analysis indicated that the T1355C SNPs were significantly associated with meat percentage (P < 0.05). A significant association between the G1356A polymorphism and live weight and loin muscle area was also detected (P < 0.05). However, no significant association was found between 4 SNPs and the other growth, carcass composition, and meat quality traits including intramuscular fat. The results of this study suggest that TG gene-specific SNPs may be a useful marker for growth traits in marker-assisted selection programs in beef cattle.

Thyroid hormones play an important role in regulating metabolism and can affect metabolism-related traits such as fat deposition. The thyroglobulin (TG) gene produces the precursor of thyroid hormones and has been proposed as a candidate gene for a quantitative trait locus with an effect on fat deposition. In this study, we identified 4 novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5' flanking region of the TG gene using a DNA sequencing method. The SNP marker association analysis indicated that the T1355C SNPs were significantly associated with meat percentage (P TG gene-specific SNPs may be a useful marker for growth traits in marker-assisted selection programs in beef cattle.