Open Access Research article

Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) polymorphisms associated with carcass traits of meat in Korean cattle

Hyun S Cheong1, Du-Hak Yoon2, Lyoung H Kim1, Byung L Park1, Yoo H Choi1, Eui R Chung3, Yong M Cho2, Eng W Park2, Il-Cheong Cheong2, Sung-Jong Oh2, Sung-Gon Yi4, Taesung Park4 and Hyoung D Shin1*

Author Affiliations

1 Department of Genetic Epidemiology, SNP Genetics, Inc., Seoul, 153-803, Korea

2 National Livestock Research Institute, RDA, 441-706, Korea

3 Department of Biotechnology, Sangi University, Wonju, Kangwon Do, 220-702, Korea

4 Department of Statistics, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-747, Korea

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BMC Genetics 2006, 7:35 doi:10.1186/1471-2156-7-35

Published: 3 June 2006

Abstract

Background

Cold carcass weight (CW) and longissimus muscle area (EMA) are the major quantitative traits in beef cattle. In this study, we found several polymorphisms of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) gene and examined the association of polymorphisms with carcass traits (CW and EMA) in Korean native cattle (Hanwoo).

Results

By direct DNA sequencing in 24 unrelated Korean cattle, we identified 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms within the 9 kb full gene region, including the 1.5 kb promoter region. Among them, six polymorphic sites were selected for genotyping in our beef cattle (n = 428) and five marker haplotypes (frequency > 0.1) were identified. Statistical analysis revealed that -4241A>T showed significant associations with CW and EMA.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in GHRH might be one of the important genetic factors that influence carcass yield in beef cattle. Sequence variation/haplotype information identified in this study would provide valuable information for the production of a commercial line of beef cattle.