Evolution of peroxisomal trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase (PECR) as candidate gene for meat quality

Peroxisomal trans-2-enoyl-CoA reductase plays a role in fatty acid elongation via the conversion of 2E-Octadecenoyl-coA to stearoyl-coA. It is encoded by the PECR gene, which is located in a QTL-rich region on chromosome 15 in pigs. Due to the function and localization of this gene, it could be supposed that it contains potential biomarkers. Therefore, in the present study regulatory sequences of the PECR gene has been analyzed. DNA was isolated from blood samples of three pig breeds: Polish Landrace (n = 359), Polish Large White (n = 316) and Pulawska pigs (n = 140). The identification of PECR mutations was performed by High-Resolution Melting and Sanger sequencing methods, and genotyping by PCR-RFLP. The association study was performed using the GLM SAS procedure. In the second part of the experiment, the profile of PECR expression dependent on pig breed and PECR genotype was evaluated (n = 10 in each analyzed group) by using qPCR method and Taqman probes. A single nucleotide substitution ENSSSCT00000030284.1: c. -145T > C in a promoter region of PECR gene was found which probably alters the binding site for transcription factors. The association study showed that PECR polymorphism affects the main carcass cuts, IMF and meat texture parameters. Pigs with a TT genotype were characterized by down arrow weight of ham, up arrow weight of loin, down arrow IMF, up arrow backfat thickness, down arrow loin and up arrow ham texture parameters (P < 0.05). The results obtained also showed that the PECR transcript profile is dependent on pig breed (P < 0.001) and c. -145T > C PECR genotype (P < 0.05). The T allele in Polish pig populations is rather rare. However, information concerning the effect of PECR mutation on pig traits may have significant impact in populations where the T allele is more frequent and during development of a method of genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) in pigs.