MC4R AND PGAM2 GENES POLYMORPHISM ASSOCIATION WITH PRODUCTION TRAITS IN RABBIT (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

Mutations of the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene are associated with body weight, obesity, and growth. PGAM2 is associated with drip loss, meat colour, fat deposition, lean content, muscle fiber diameter and carcass traits. The present study had been carried out to investigate the association between a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of MC4R (101G>A) and PGAM2 (195C>T) gene and selected production traits in rabbits. Genomic DNA for all analyses was extracted from muscle (biceps femoris) using NucleoSpin kit. The c.101G>A (MC4R) and c.195C>T (PGAM2) was genotyped by PCR-RFLP in a total of 44 rabbits. The average allele frequency was 0.63 for allele A and 0.37 for G, resp. 0.66 for allele C and 0.34 for T. The association results revealed the AA genotype of c.101G>A was associated significantly (P < 0.05) with greater live body weight. Statistically significant association of the genotypes with other production traits was not observed.