An association analysis between polymorphisms of the pig solute carrier family 27A (SLC27A), member 1 and 4 genes and serum and muscle lipid traits

Solute carrier family 27A (SLC27A) molecules play a fundamental role in the cellular uptake of long-chain fatty acids in a wide variety of tissues and organs. Although polymorphisms at the pig SLC27A1 and SLC27A4 genes have been associated with backfat thickness in pigs, the existence of associations with lipid composition traits has not been investigated yet. Herewith, we have sequenced the coding regions of the SLC27A1, SLC27A2 and SLC27A4 genes in 15 Duroc pigs, revealing the existence of three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) at SLC27A1 (c.441C>T, c.747A>G and c.⁎400C>T) and two additional SNP at SLC27A4 (c.243T>G and c.837C>T). The performance of an association analysis with a wide array of serum and muscle lipid traits revealed the existence of suggestive associations (nominal P-value <0.05, but not significant after correction for multiple testing) between SLC27A1 genotype and gluteus medius saturated fatty acid (SFA) and stearic contents (%), and between SLC27A4 genotype and gluteus medius SFA content (%). Similarly, SLC27A1 genotype was suggestively associated with SFA content (%) at the longisimus thoracis et lumborum muscle. These findings agree from a functional point of view with the essential role of SLC27A family members in cellular fatty acid uptake and reinforce the need of further exploring the role of these molecules in defining muscle lipid composition.This work has been funded by Grant nos. AGL2007-66707-C02 and AGL2010-22208-C02-02 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación) and CSD 2007-00036 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Consolider Ingenio 2010 Program). The authors are indebted to Selección Batallé S.A. for providing the animal material and for their cooperation in the experimental protocol. D. Gallardo was funded with a fellowship of the University Autònoma of Barcelona. R. Pena received a contractual grant from the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (Spain). A. Zidi received a contractual grant under the framework of the CSD 2007-00036.Peer reviewe