Research article

A single nucleotide polymorphism in CAPN1 associated with marbling score in Korean cattle

Hyun Sub Cheong¹ , Du-Hak Yoon² , Byung Lae Park¹ , Lyoung Hyo Kim¹ , Joon Seol Bae¹ , Sohg Namgoong¹ , Hae Won Lee¹ , Chang Soo Han¹ , Ji On Kim¹ , Il-Cheong Cheong² and Hyoung Doo Shin^1,3

¹Department of Genetic Epidemiology, SNP Genetics, Inc., Rm 1407, Complex B, WooLim Lion's Valley, 371-28, Gasan-Dong, Geumcheon-Gu, Seoul, 153-803, Korea

²Du-Hak Yoon, Il-Cheong Cheong. National Livestock Research Institute, RDA, Suwon, 441-706, Korea

³Department of Life Science, Sogang University, 1 Shinsu-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, 121-742, Korea

author email corresponding author email

BMC Genetics 2008, 9:33doi:10.1186/1471-2156-9-33

Published:	19 April 2008

Abstract

Background

Marbling score (MS) is the major quantitative trait that affects carcass quality in beef cattle. In this study, we examined the association between genetic polymorphisms of the micromolar calcium-activated neutral protease gene (micro-calpain, CAPN1) and carcass traits in Korean cattle (also known as Hanwoo).

Results

By direct DNA sequencing in 24 unrelated Korean cattle, we identified 39 sequence variants within exons and their flanking regions in CAPN1. Among them, 12 common polymorphic sites were selected for genotyping in the beef cattle (n = 421). Statistical analysis revealed that a polymorphism in the 3'UTR (c.2151*479C>T) showed significant association with MS (P^cor. = 0.02).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in CAPN1 might be one of the important genetic factors involved in carcass quality in beef cattle, although it could be false positive association.