<i>AGPAT6</i> gene EX1_303T > C and EX12_299G > A mutations and associations with economic traits of Chinese Simmental-cross cattle

One of the 11 members in the family of 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate-O- acyltransferases (AGPATs), AGPAT6, is responsible for the second step in the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol in eukaryotes. The AGPAT6 gene is highly expressed in brown adipose tissue, mammary gland epithelial cells and many other tissues. In this study, the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique was applied to detect sites of polymorphism in the bovine AGPAT6 gene, and two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in the exon 1 and exon 12. Thirty-three traits associated with the meat quality and the carcass were also measured in Chinese Simmental-cross steers. The association between the two SNPs and the traits was then analyzed. The polymorphism site EX1_303T > C was significantly associated with the omasum weight, liver weight, pH value of the beef (carcass), fat coverage rate of the carcass, fat color score, kidney weight and back fat thickness. The polymorphism site EX12_299G > A was significantly associated with bone net weight, forehoof weight, hind feet weight, the fat coverage rate of the carcass, the head and heart weight and the marbling score. Thus, the polymorphisms in the AGPAT6 gene might be important genetic factors that influence the carcass yield and meat quality of beef cattle and may be useful markers of meat quality traits in future marker-assisted selection programs for the breeding and production of beef cattle.