Association study between backfat fatty acid composition and SNPs in candidate genes highlights the effect of FASN polymorphism in large white pigs

The objective of the study was to test the associations between backfat fatty acid composition (FAC)in a sample of 536 Italian Large White pigs and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)located in candidate genes, using univariate and multivariate approaches. The strongest associations were identified for the SNP AY183428 c.265T>C in Fatty acid synthase (FASN)gene, with the T allele linked to lower backfat contents of stearic (P = 0.003)and arachidic (P < 0.0001)acids, and increased amounts of dihomo-γ-linolenic (P = 0.003)and arachidonic (P = 0.009)acids. These associations were in agreement with the results of a multivariate analysis performed on backfat FAC, and an in silico analysis of the sequence flanking FASN SNP suggested that the T allele may disrupt a putative exonic splicing enhancer sequence therefore possibly affecting FASN activity. If the results will be further confirmed, the studied FASN SNP could be of particular interest for better understanding the regulative patterns controlling porcine backfat FAC.