Expression Analysis of the PITX2 Gene and Associations between Its Polymorphisms and Body Size and Carcass Traits in Chickens.

ABSTRACT: PITX2 is expressed in and plays an important role in myocytes of mice, and it has effects on late myogenic differentiation in chickens. However, the expression profile and polymorphisms of PITX2 remain unclear in chickens. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to detect its expression and investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within its exons and then to evaluate whether these polymorphisms affect body size as well as carcass traits in chickens. The expression analysis showed that the expression level of chicken PITX2 mRNA in the leg muscle and hypophysis was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than those in other tissues. The results of polymorphisms analysis identified two SNPs (i.e., g.9830C > T and g.10073C > T) in exon 1 and 10 SNPs (i.e., g.12713C > T, g.12755C > T, g.

SUBMITTER: Cao H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6940742 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature