Association and expression analysis of porcine HNF1A gene related to meat and carcass quality traits

• We studied the effect of HNF1A SNP on porcine meat quality.
• g.8260 A>G polymorphism associated with pH 24, meat percentage and muscle area.
• HNF1A mRNA and protein expressions were higher in animals with the low pH 24.
• The promoter methylation was not involved on HNF1A expression.
• Response to marker assisted selection for meat quality HNF1A SNP is advisable.

The aim of this study was to investigate the association and expression of HNF1A gene as a candidate gene for meat and carcass quality traits in pigs. Statistical analysis revealed that the g.8260 A>G polymorphism significantly associated with pH 24H, meat percentage and muscle area in the F2 Duroc × Pietrain (DuPi, n = 313) and with pH 24L, fat area and backfat thickness in the Pietrain (Pi, n = 110) population. HNF1A mRNA and protein expressions were higher (p < 0.05) in animals with the low post-mortem muscle pH 24L. The promoter methylation profiling suggested that methylation was not involved on HNF1A expression regulation (p > 0.05) in animal with divergent muscle pH. In conclusion, polymorphism in porcine HNF1A gene could be used as a candidate marker to improve the meat and carcass quality traits, with the consideration of breed-specific effect.