Developmental Expression Characteristics of Acyl CoA: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase Genes 1 and 2(DGAT1 and DGAT2) and Their Association Analysis with Backfat Thickness in Large White Pig
Abstract：The diacylglycerpl acyltransferase(DGAT) plays an important central role in the metabolism of cellular diacylglycerol. This study was conducted to investigate the DGAT genes (DGAT1 and DGAT2) acyl CoA: diacylglycerol acyltransferase(DGAT) gene expression characteristics during 60, 90 and 120 days in 3 different tissues, liver(L), subcutaneous fat(SF) and rib eye muscle(RE), by Real-time PCR. The association between tissue expression profile and backfat of shoulder, backfat of 6~7 ribs, backfat of the last rib and backfat of gluteus medius was analyzed. The results showed there were no any difference (P＞0.05) expression of DGAT1 in different days, whereas significant differences (P＜0.05) in DGAT2 mRNA expression between 60 and 90 days in the different tissues of the Large Whites. The analysis of DGAT1 and DGAT2 expression in different tissues indicated that the highest levels of DGAT1 was expressed in the L, followed in SF, the highest levels of DGAT2 was expressed in the SF, followed in L ,and the least in ovary of the RE. The result of association analysis showed there were the significant positive correlation between expression of DGAT1 and BF of 6~7 ribs(r = 0.71, P＜0.01) and backfat of the last rib (r = 0.62, P＜0.01) in the L, and the significant negative correlation(r = -0.46, P＜0.05) between expression of DGAT2 and BF of shoulder, and the significant positive correlation(r = 0.49, P＜0.05) between expression of DGAT2 and BF of 6~7 ribs in SF. The results suggested that the expression of DGAT2 gene was different levels in two days, and DGAT1 and DGAT2 were expressed in three tissues with different levels. The expression of DGAT1 and DGAT2 genes were significant correlation with part BF. DGAT1 and DGAT2 can be considered as candidate genes of BF in Large Whites' breeding.
