GENETIC POLYMORPHISM OF THE MYOSTATIN GENE (MSTN) IN DANUBE WHITE BREED PIGS

R. Stoikova-Grigorova, K. Stefanova, I. Atanasov, K. Eneva

Abstract: Myostatin (MSTN/GDF8) is a general growth factor that regulates the embryonic process of mammalian myofiber formation. This fact determines its major role in the development of skeletal muscle. In pigs, cattle and sheep it is assumed that the MSTN gene is “candidate“ gene, responsible for the double muscularity phenotype. The aim of this study was to examine genetic variations or polymorphism in the locus of myostatin gene in pigs from Danube white breed. DNA was isolated from plucked hair of 52 animals from the herd of the Agricultural Institute – Shumen. Genotyping by searches locus (GDF8-exon3 и GDF8-promoter) was performed by polymerase chain reaction method (PCR method), the analysis of the polymorphism of the restriction fragment lengths (RFLP) and three restriction enzymes. MnlI and DraI enzymes were used to determine restriction polymorphism in the promoter region of GDF8-promoter and enzymes TaqI for GDF8-exon3. In total 52 pigs were analysed for DraI polymorphism in MSTN/promoter; out of them one animal were heterozygote - АТgenotype and 51 were ТТ homozygotes. No restriction polymorphism was detected using MnlI and TaqI enzymes in MSTN/promoter and MSTN/exon3 site; all animals were monomorphic for the T and C allele respectively.

Keywords: DNA variations; double muscularity phenotype; myostatin gene; pigs

Date published: 2019-01-28