Summary: | The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of mutations in the <i>FGL1</i> gene associated with pig productive traits to enrich the genetic marker pool for further selection and to support the studies on <i>FGL1</i> in the context of the fat deposition (FD) process. The variant calling and χ<sup>2</sup> analyses of liver RNA-seq data were used to indicate genetic markers. <i>FGL1</i> mutations were genotyped in the Złotnicka White (n = 72), Polish Large White (n = 208), Duroc (n = 72), Polish Landrace (PL) (n = 292), and Puławska (n = 178) pig breeds. An association study was performed using a general linear model (GLM) implemented in SAS<sup>®</sup> software. More than 50 crucial mutations were identified in the <i>FGL1</i> gene. The association study showed a significant effect of the <i>FGL1</i> on intramuscular fat (IMF), loin eye area, backfat thickness at the lumbar, ham mass (<i>p</i> = 0.0374), meat percentage (<i>p</i> = 0.0205), and loin fat (<i>p</i> = 0.0003). Alternate homozygotes and heterozygotes were found in the PL and Duroc, confirming the selective potential for these populations. Our study supports the theory that liver <i>FGL1</i> is involved in the FD process. Moreover, since fat is the major determinant of flavor development in meat, the <i>FGL1</i> rs340465447_A allele can be used as a target in pig selection focused on elevated fat levels.
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