Literature review of genes responsible for intramuscular fat content and its methodology in swine

The organoleptic value of pork, e.g. its taste and tenderness, as well as overall acceptability is positively influenced by fat content, including both inter- and intramuscular fat (IMF) content up to a certain threshold. Recently, a number of research dealt with studying the genetic background of IMF incorporation. Many genes have been identified that are involved in fat metabolism and in development of marbling in muscle tissue. The aim of this work is to review the current literaure written about the most important genes and gene families that play role in IMF metabolism. The most studied genes are FABP3 and FABP4, which are part of the FABP family. They have a key role in the transport and intermediate metabolism of lipids. Number of studies have recently been published discussing the role of SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase) encoding gene in IMF content. Since multiple genes have been already identified playing a key role in fat metabolism and in fat deposition in muscle tissue, its gene expression studies are crucial in genetic programmes as well as in nutrigenomical research.The organoleptic value of pork, e.g. its taste and tenderness, as well as overall acceptability is positively influenced by fat content, including both inter- and intramuscular fat (IMF) content up to a certain threshold. Recently, a number of research dealt with studying the genetic background of IMF incorporation. Many genes have been identified that are involved in fat metabolism and in development of marbling in muscle tissue. The aim of this work is to review the current literaure written about the most important genes and gene families that play role in IMF metabolism. The most studied genes are FABP3 and FABP4, which are part of the FABP family. They have a key role in the transport and intermediate metabolism of lipids. Number of studies have recently been published discussing the role of SCD (stearoyl-CoA desaturase) encoding gene in IMF content. Since multiple genes have been already identified playing a key role in fat metabolism and in fat deposition in muscle tissue, its gene expression studies are crucial in genetic programmes as well as in nutrigenomical research

Genes Related to Fat Metabolism in Pigs and Intramuscular Fat Content of Pork: A Focus on Nutrigenetics and Nutrigenomics

Fat metabolism and intramuscular fat (IMF) are qualitative traits in pigs whose development are influenced by several genes and metabolic pathways. Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics offer prospects in estimating nutrients required by a pig. Application of these emerging fields in nutritional science provides an opportunity for matching nutrients based on the genetic make-up of the pig for trait improvements. Today, integration of high throughput “omics” technologies into nutritional genomic research has revealed many quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the mutation(s) of key genes directly or indirectly involved in fat metabolism and IMF deposition in pigs. Nutrient–gene interaction and the underlying molecular mechanisms involved in fatty acid synthesis and marbling in pigs is difficult to unravel. While existing knowledge on QTLs and SNPs of genes related to fat metabolism and IMF development is yet to be harmonized, the scientific explanations behind the nature of the existing correlation between the nutrients, the genes and the environment remain unclear, being inconclusive or lacking precision. This paper aimed to: (1) discuss nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and epigenetic mechanisms controlling fat metabolism and IMF accretion in pigs; (2) highlight the potentials of these concepts in pig nutritional programming and research