Analysis of two pit-1 gene polymorphisms and relationships with growth performance traits in mink

The pit-1 has been implicated in regulation of body weight. Its gene sequence and protein function exhibit high evolutionary conservation and have been studied extensively in humans, mice, pigs and chickens. Mink pit-1 is nearly identical to dog pit-1 but little is know about its function. Thus, researchers investigated whether polymorphisms in th pit-1 exon4 and exon6 were associated with mink growth traits. Five population of mink were assessed for growth traits for use in statistical correlation analysis with genomic sequence data. Two SNPs were detected in the pit-1 exon4 and exon6 of each population: 43C>T and 143 A>G. The 43C>T mutation produced three genotypes: AA, BB and AB. Statistical analysis of variance revealed that 43C>T polymorphism was associated with Body Weight (BW) and Carcass Weight (CW) in black mink; the 143A>G mutation produced three genotypes as well: CC, DD and CD; statistcal analysis of variance revealed that the 134A>G polymorphism was associated Body Weight (BW) in. black mink (p<0.05). The interaction of 43C>T and 143A>G was discussed through combination genotype analysis. The result showed that the combined genotype had significant association with Body Lenght (BL) in sapphire mink and Body Weight (BW) and Carcass Weigth (CW) in black mink (p<0.05). The findings suggest that the pit-1 gene could be a qualitative trait locus or linked to a major gene that affects growth traits in. mink.