PurposeTo investigate the polymorphisms of exon 8 in serine/threonine kinase 32B (STK32B) gene and its association with sow reproductive traits in Large White pigs.
MethodsThe single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the exon 8 of STK32B gene were detected by PCR product directly sequencing in 476 Large White pigs. Combining data of 2177 litters reproductive performance, the effects of each identified SNP genotypes and haplotype combinations for multiple loci on five reproductive traits were analyzed by least square models.
ResultsThree SNPs were detected within the exon 8 of STK32B gene, which included two synonymous mutations (A669G, C732T) and one missense mutation (C749T). For the loci A669G, C732T and C749T, the highest frequency was presented for the genotypes AA, CC, CC and the alleles A, C, C, respectively. Polymorphic information content (0.1450-0.1744) and heterozygosity (0.1574-0.1930) of the three loci were not high generally. Genotype AA of A669G could significantly increase the litter weight of piglets (P<0.05). The SNP C732T was associated significantly with total born number (TBN), born alive number (BAN) and piglets litter weight at birth (LWB), which the genotype TT could increase TBN (P<0.05), the genotype CT could increase BAN and LWB (P<0.05). The genotype TT of the SNP C749T could significantly increase LWB (P<0.05). For the haplotype combinations (HAC) of the three SNPs, the combination ACC/ATC had the effects of increasing TBN and BAN extremely significantly (P<0.01), ACC/ACT could significantly or extremely significantly increase LWB and piglets litter weight at weaning (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and ACC/GCT could significantly increase piglets number at weaning (P<0.05).
ConclusionThe present results revealed that the polymorphisms in exon 8 of STK32B gene were significantly associated with sow reproductive traits in Large White pigs, the effects of the HAC of the three SNPs were various for different traits.
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