Abstract：The retinoid (vitamin A and its derivatives) plays a critical role in vision, growth, reproduction, cell differentiation, and embryonic development. Using the INRA IMpRH panel, porcine cellular retinol binding protein genes 1 (RBP1) and plasma retinol binding protein gene 4 (RBP4) were assigned to porcine chromosomes 13 and 14, respectively. The mRNA distributions of the two genes in adult Wuzhishan pig tissues (lung, skeletal muscle, spleen, heart, stomach, large intestine, lymph code, small intestine, liver, brain, kidney, and fat) were examined. One SNP was identified in PRB4, and analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in Laiwu, Wuzhishan, Guizhou, Bama pig breeds and Tongcheng experimental population. Significant associations were found between different genotypes of RBP4-A/G156 with maximum carcass length (LM), minimum carcass length (LN), hemoglobin (HGB), mean corpuscular volume hemoglobin (MCH), and day to slaughter weight (Age) traits. This SNP locus may be used as the genetic markers in pig breeding and porcine production.
