The T allele at the g.1471620G>T in the EDG1 gene associated with high marbling in Japanese Black cattle is at a low frequency in breeds not selected for marbling.

Our previous study detected a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), g.1471620G>T, in the 5' flanking region of the endothelial differentiation sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor 1 (EDG1) gene, which has been considered as a positional functional candidate for the gene responsible for marbling, and showed association of the g.1471620G>T SNP with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle.

Association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in titin gene with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle.

Background: Marbling defined by the amount and distribution of intramuscular fat is an economically important trait of beef cattle in Japan. We have recently reported that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endothelial differentiation, sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor, 1 (EDG1) gene were associated with marbling in Japanese Black beef cattle. As well as EDG1, the titin (TTN) gene, involved in myofibrillogenesis, has been previously shown to possess expression difference in musculus longissimus muscle between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups, and to be located within genomic region of a quantitative trait locus for marbling.

Polymorphisms in promoter regions of PDHB, SORBS1, and EDG1 genes showing marbling-associated expression changes.

We have recently showed that the pyruvate dehydrogenase (lipoamide) beta (PDHB) gene involved in fatty acid oxidation, the sorbin and SH3 domain containing 1 (SORBS1) gene involved in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and the endothelial differentiation, sphingolipid G-protein-coupled receptor, 1 (EDG1) gene involved in blood vessel formation possess expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups. In the present study, we detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of the 3 genes between the 2 steer groups. A SNP in the EDG1 exhibited significantly different allelic distribution between animals with extremely high predicted breeding value for marbling and with extremely low one.

Polymorphisms for 7 expressed sequence tags showing marbling-associated expression changes.

We have recently showed that the 7 expressed sequence tags (ESTs), c2-11#2, c3-3, c20-29, c22-3, c26-18#1, c26-42, and g5-10, possess expression differences in musculus longissimus muscle between low-marbled and high-marbled steer groups. In the present study, we detected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5' flanking regions of the 7 EST sequences between the 2 steer groups. A SNP for the c2-11#2 EST exhibited significantly different allelic distribution between animals with extremely high predicted breeding value for marbling and with extremely low one.