Exploiting whole genome sequence data to fine map and characterize candidate genes within a quantitative trait loci...

Male piglets are routinely castrated to eliminate boar taint. However, this treatment is undesirable, and alternative approaches, including genetic strategies to reduce boar taint, are demanded. Androstenone is one of the causative agents of boar taint, and a QTL region affecting this pheromone has previously been reported on SSC5: 22.6-24.8 Mb in Duroc. The QTL region is one of the few reported for androstenone that does not simultaneously affect levels of other sex steroids. The main objective of this study was to fine map this QTL. Whole genome sequence data from 23 Norwegian Duroc boars were analyzed to detect new polymorphisms within the QTL region. A subset of 161 SNPs was genotyped in 834 Duroc sires and analyzed for association with androstenone in adipose tissue and testosterone, estrone sulphate and 17β-estradiol in blood plasma. Our results revealed 100 SNPs significantly associated with androstenone levels in fat (P < 0.001) with 94 of the SNPs being in strong linkage disequilibrium in the region 23.03-24.27 Mb. This haplotype block contains at least four positional candidate genes (HSD17B6, SDR9C7, RDH16 and STAT6) involved in androstenone biosynthesis. No significant associations were found between any of the SNPs and levels of testosterone and estrogens, confirming previous findings. The amount of phenotypic variance explained by single SNPs within the haplotype block was as high as 5.4%. As the SNPs in this region significantly affect levels of androstenone without affecting levels of other sex steroids, they are especially interesting as genetic markers for selection against boar taint.