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This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: jas.2009-2091v1 87/12/3905    most recent Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Google Scholar Articles by Cánovas, A. Articles by Doran, O. PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Cánovas, A. Articles by Doran, O.

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase and stearoyl-CoA desaturase protein expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue is reduced in pigs selected for decreased backfat thickness at constant intramuscular fat content¹

A. Cánovas^*, J. Estany, M. Tor, R. N. Pena^* and O. Doran^,2

^* IRTA, Genètica i Millora Animal, 191 Rovira Roure, 25198 Lleida, Spain; and University of Lleida, Department of Animal Production, 191 Rovira Roure, 25198 Lleida, Spain; and School of Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY Bristol, United Kingdom

² Corresponding author: Olena.Doran{at}uwe.ac.uk

The objectives of this study were 1) to determine whether selection toward less subcutaneous fat thickness at constant intramuscular fat content in pigs is related to tissue-specific changes in the expression of lipogenic enzymes acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), and ⁶-desaturase (6d); and 2) to investigate tissue specific distribution of the porcine ACC, SCD, and 6d. The study was conducted on 20 purebred Duroc barrows. Ten animals were from a group selected for decreased subcutaneous fat thickness at constant intramuscular fat content (experimental group). The other 10 animals were from the unselected (control) group. Distribution of ACC, SCD, and 6d was investigated in semimembranosus muscle (SM), subcutaneous adipose tissue (SA), liver (L), kidney (K), heart (H), diaphragm (D), rectus capitis muscle (RCM), and abdominal fat (AF). The enzyme expression was studied in 10 animals in the case of SM and SA and in 4 animals in the case of other tissues. The following expression pattern was established for ACC: SM H = K D < RCM < L < AF = SA, whereas the expression patterns for SCD and 6d proteins were SM < H < RCM < D < L < K < AF = SA and RCM = SM = D < L H < SA < K < AF, respectively. Expression of ACC and SCD proteins was less in subcutaneous adipose tissue of the experimental animals when compared with the control group (P < 0.001). However, no difference (P > 0.1) in ACC and SCD protein expression between the control and experimental groups was observed in SM. Expression of 6d protein did not differ between the control and experimental groups for SA (P = 0.47) or SM (P = 0.31). There was a positive relationship between muscle SCD protein expression and intramuscular fat content (r = 0.48, P < 0.05). Intramuscular fat content did not correlate with ACC or 6d protein expression (P = 0.23 and P = 0.80, respectively). We conclude that SCD might be an effective potential biomarker for intramuscular fat deposition.

Key Words: intramuscular fat • lipogenic enzyme expression • meat quality • pig • subcutaneous fat