[Polymorphism of porcine myostatin gene]

Myostatin(MSTN) gene is expressed specifically in developing and mature skeletal muscle, and the expression products of MSTN gene inhibits muscle growth and differentiation. The polymorphism of the porcine MSTN gene was researched by PCR-SSCP. The SSCP was found in the MSTN gene exon 2 and exon 3. It showed three genotypes (CC, CT, TT) in exon 2 and two genotypes (AG, GG) in exon 3 in Large White pigs. The relationship between polymorphism in exons 2 and 3 and productive performance was analysed. Variance analysis showed that there was no significant relationship between the polymorphism in exon 2 and productive performance. But t test showed that there was a significant relationship between the polymorphism in exon 3 and back fat thickness (P < 0.05), there was also a relationship between the polymorphism in exon 3 and lean meat percentage, but not significant (P > 0.05). The fragments with SSCP polymorphism in exon 2 and 3 were sequenced, the sequencing results showed that there were two single nucleotides mutation, i.e. A-->G at 1008 (exon 3) and G-->T at 480 (exon 2). Two mutations did not change the amino acid but brought an Apa I site in exon 3, and PCR-RFLP molecular marker technique was established with Apa I.