Expression and genome polymorphism of ACSL1 gene in different pig breeds

Acyl coenzyme A long-chain 1 synthetase (ACSL1) plays a key role in animal fat synthesis and fatty acid beta-oxidation. In order to research the function of the ACSL1 gene in pig, we analyzed the mRNA expression in liver, backfat and longissimus dorsi muscle by quantitative real-time PCR in Tibet pig (TP, n = 10), Diannan small ear pig (DSP, n = 10) and large white pig (LW, n = 10). The results showed that the mRNA expressions of the ACSL1 gene in liver and longissimus dorsi muscle of DSP and TP were significant higher than that of LW (P < 0.01). However, the expression in backfat of LW was significant higher than that of TP (P < 0.01) and DSP (P < 0.05). In addition, four SNPs located in 5' flanking region (T-1191C), exon 6(G173A), exon 14(C36T) and exon 17(T46C) were identified, and the allele frequencies of the four SNPs were significant different in indigenous and introduced pig breeds. The results indicated that the ACSL1 gene might be relative to the capacity of fat deposition and meat quality in pig breeds.