Single nucleotide polymorphisms within rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) fatty acids binding protein 4 (FABP4) are associated with meat quality traits

Fatty acids binding protein 4 (FABP4; a-FABP) belongs to a family of proteins interacting with fatty acids and influencing lipid metabolism. Thus it may play an important role in rabbit fatness traits. The work was aimed at identifying SNPs within the rabbit FABP4, and their association with fatness traits. Panel of 20 animals' DNA with varying content of intramuscular fat were sequenced. Alignment of the sequences obtained revealed seven polymorphic sites within the rabbit FABP4: four silent (g.97156738 G>A/ rs880004109; g.97156696 A>G/ rs880004111; g.97156168 G>A/ rs880004113 and g.97156084 G>A/ rs880004114), two located in introns - g.97156187 A>C/ rs880004112 and g.97156025 G>A/ rs880004115, and one missense mutation g.97156692 C>A/ rs880004110 (D77Y). A pool of data from 320 F2 crossbreds Belgian Giant Grey x New Zealand White rabbits was used for association analysis. The Bonferroni adjustment was applied for correction for multiple testing. Statistical analysis showed association for g.97156025 G>A for L*45 (P= .0001) and L*24 (P= .0001) values after slaughter of m. longissimus lumborum. Moreover correlations between analysed traits were calculated. We conclude that SNPs within the rabbit FABP4 gene are associated with fatness and meat traits and therefore they have potential use in breeding programs.