Effects of p.C430S polymorphism in the PPARGC1A gene on muscle fibre type composition and meat quality in Yorkshire pigs

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1A (encoded by PPARGC1A) is involved in the formation of type I fibres. Therefore, the PPARGC1A gene can be considered as a functional candidate gene for muscle fibre type composition and meat quality in pigs. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations of the p.C430S polymorphic site in exon 8 of the PPARGC1A gene with muscle fibre characteristics and meat quality traits. The polymorphism was genotyped by PCR-RFLP using AluI restriction enzyme on a total of 152 Yorkshire pigs. Statistical analyses revealed that the p.C430S genotypes significantly affected number (P < 0.05) and area (P < 0.01) of type I muscle fibre, and were significantly associated with muscle pH (P < 0.001) and lightness (P < 0.01). On the basis of these results, we suggest that the p.C430S polymorphism can induce variation of type I fibre formation in porcine longissimus dorsi muscle and that it can be used as a meaningful molecular marker for better meat quality.