Abstract Myostatin (MSTN) is an important negative regulator of muscle development. Mutations of MSTN gene can lead to muscle hypertrophy in many natural species. However, there was not been reported significant muscle phenotype in pigs (Sus scrofa) in association with MSTN mutation. Researchers from Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences used zinc-finger nucleases (ZFN) editing technique in combination with somatic cell nuclear transfer and embryo transfer techniques to knock out the MSTN gene of Meishan pig's fetal fibroblast, and obtained the first MSTN gene editing Meishan pigs in the world. The homozygous MSTN mutation (MSTN-/-) Meishan pigs had a distinct double-muscle phenotype with broad back, full hips and well-developed front shoulders. The lean-meat rate could reach more than 60%, which was nearly 20% higher than wild type. It had reached the same level as exotic pig breeds, effectively solving the technical bottleneck that restricted the development of local black pigs in China. The gene editing pig had not any marker gene or any integrated carrier fragment in the genome, and there was no off-target phenomenon. It was more reliable in animal health and product safety. Additionally, it had been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture to enter the stage of production test safety evaluation. The patent for the preparation of the related achievements and the patent for the protection of MSTN mutant sequences had been granted by the National Invention Patents. At present, this achievement has good industrialization prospects in terms of safety and breeding value, which could bring enormous economic benefits to the society.
CUI Wen-Tao,XIE Shan-Shan,LI Xiang, et al. New Germplasm of Meishan Pig (Sus scrofa) with High Lean-meat Rate was Created by Editing Pig MSTN Gene with ZFN Technique[J]. 农业生物技术学报, 2019, 27(12): 2272-2280.
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