Abstract

Molecular cloning and expression pattern of the porcine 5-aminolevulinate synthase 1 (ALAS1) gene and its association with reproductive traits

5-Aminolevulinate synthase 1 (ALAS1) is the first enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway and is upregulated in follicular tissue during the early stages of ovulation. In this study, we isolated the complete coding sequence of the porcine ALAS1 gene and its 2-9 intron sequence, identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; T/C) in intron 9, and developed a PCR-MspI-restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assay. Association of the SNP with litter size was assessed in two populations [purebred Large White and the experimental synthetic (DIV) line]. Statistical analysis demonstrated that for total number of piglets born (TNB) in all parities, pigs with the CC genotype had an additional 0.68 and 0.74 piglets compared to the TC and TT animals (P ALAS1 gene expression were observed in isolated ovarian granulosa cells 2 and 12 h after stimulation with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin human chorionic gonadotropin, which represents the time of follicular development and ovulation, respectively. Therefore, the ALAS1 gene was significantly associated with litter size in two populations and could be a useful molecular marker for the selection of increasing litter size in pigs. 5-Aminolevulinate synthase 1 (ALAS1) is the first enzyme in the heme biosynthetic pathway and is upregulated in follicular tissue during the early stages of ovulation. In this study, we isolated the complete coding sequence of the porcine ALAS1 gene and its 2-9 intron sequence, identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP; T/C) in intron 9, and developed a PCR-MspI-restriction fragment length polymorphism genotyping assay. Association of the SNP with litter size was assessed in two populations [purebred Large White and the experimental synthetic (DIV) line]. Statistical analysis demonstrated that for total number of piglets born (TNB) in all parities, pigs with the CC genotype had an additional 0.68 and 0.74 piglets compared to the TC and TT animals (P ALAS1 gene expression were observed in isolated ovarian granulosa cells 2 and 12 h after stimulation with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin human chorionic gonadotropin, which represents the time of follicular development and ovulation, respectively. Therefore, the ALAS1 gene was significantly associated with litter size in two populations and could be a useful molecular marker for the selection of increasing litter size in pigs.

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