Effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes of the protein kinase AMP-activated non-catalytic subunit gamma 3 (PRKAG3) gene on production, meat quality and carcass traits in Italian Large White pigs

PRKAG3 is a major gene for meat quality and production in pigs. In this study, we investigated two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the PRKAG3 promoter region (g.-995A>G and g.-311A>G) in 381 pigs of different breeds. Association between these SNPs and three major haplotypes, constructed including other three substitutions (c.89C>A, c.154A>G and c.595G>A) and different traits (meat quality parameters: pH2h, pHu, glycogen and lactate content, glycolytic potential and cathepsin B activity of Semimembranosus muscle; estimated breeding values and random residuals for growth performances and carcass traits) were analysed in 271 Italian Large White performance tested pigs. A significant effect (P = 0.043) of the g.-995A>G SNP on cathepsin B activity and a suggestive effect (P = 0.067) of the g.-311A>G SNP on pHu were found. The haplotype [g.-995G:g.-311G:c.89A:c.154G:c.595G] was associated with pHu (P = 0.024), glycolytic potential (P = 0.040) and cathepsin B activity (P = 0.086). This study on haplotypes, including promoter region SNPs, contribute to explain the effect of this gene on meat quality traits in pigs.