Investigating The Genetic Regulation Of The Expression Of 63 Lipid Metabolism Genes In The Pig Skeletal Muscle

Abstract

Despite their potential involvement in the determination of fatness phenotypes, a comprehensive and systematic view about the genetic regulation of lipid metabolism genes is still lacking in pigs. Herewith, we have used a dataset of 104 pigs, with available genotypes for 62,163 single nucleotide polymorphisms and microarray gene expression measurements in the gluteus medius muscle, to investigate the genetic regulation of 63 genes with crucial roles in the uptake, transport, synthesis and catabolism of lipids. By performing an eQTL scan with the GEMMA software, we have detected 12 cis- and 18 trans-eQTL modulating the expression of 19 loci. Genes regulated by eQTL had a variety of functions such as the {beta}-oxidation of fatty acids, lipid biosynthesis and lipolysis, fatty acid activation and desaturation, lipoprotein uptake, apolipoprotein assembly and cholesterol trafficking. These data provide a first picture about the genetic regulation of loci involved in porcine lipid metabolism.