Correlations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in FABP4 and meat quality and lipid metabolism gene expression in Yanbian yellow cattle

FABP4is a candidate gene for carcass and meat quality traits in livestock and poultry. However, the effects ofFABP4have not been examined in the Yanbian yellow cattle, an economically important local cattle breed in China. In this study, we characterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) inFABP4in this cattle breed and their associations with meat quality traits. Six SNPs (referred to as SNP1-6) were identified inFABP4by direct sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The six SNPs were significantly correlated with meat quality traits. In particular, the GG and GA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with water and fat contents and GG and AA genotypes of SNP1 were significantly associated with protein contents (P< 0.05). The fat content and marbling in heterozygous individuals at SNP2-6 were significantly higher than those in wild-type or mutant individuals (P< 0.05), while protein content was significantly higher in wild-type and mutant individuals than in heterozygous individuals (P< 0.05). A gene expression analysis indicated that the lipid metabolism-related genesFABP4,PPAR gamma,ANGPTL4, andLPLshow similar expression patterns with respect toFABP4genotypes, with the highest levels in wild-type individuals and the lowest levels in mutants. In conclusion,FABP4SNPs can be used for marker-assisted selection in Yanbian yellow cattle breeding.