Distribution of polymorphisms on avian uncoupling protein gene of Asian native fowl and commercial chicken

Abstract

The purpose of improvement for meat-type chicken is mainly in weight gain and meat quality. However, excessive fat deposition in abdomen is a problem in strains of chickens that was improved mainly in meat production. Avian uncoupling protein (UCP3) is thought to have a role of thermogenesis, and may affect to lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to clarify the distribution of SNPs g.1270C>T (p.188Ala>Val) and g.1316T>C (Silent) and/or their diplotypes in exon 3 of UCP3 among 11 Asian native fowl populations and 4 commercial breeds. Genotyping was performed by PCR-restriction length polymorphisms method, and 7 diplotypes were detected. Haplotype frequencies were 0.66 (CT), 0.27 (CC), 0.02 (TT) and 0.05 (TC), respectively, in the entire investigated population. The haplotype frequencies, that is consisted of g.1270C>T and g.1316T>C, tend to have much difference by each haplotypes. However, all the haplotypes were remained in both of native fowl and improved chicken. From the results of present study, there is a possible to use the SNP in UCP3 for improvement of meat-type chicken.