Effects of a Novel p.A41P Mutation in the Swine Myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) Gene on Protein Stabilizing, Muscle Fiber Characteristics and Meat Quality

Myogenic factor 5 (MYF5) plays an important role in regulating skeletal muscle fiber characteristics, consequently affecting meat production and quality. We identified a novel p.A41P mutation in exon1 of the porcine MYF5 gene by direct sequencing. The mutation was predicted to be destabilizing in protein structure based on the resultant amino acid substitution. We estimated the significant substitution effect of p.A41P on the energy stabilization of Myf5 protein structure. Then, we demonstrated that the mutation in Yorkshire population significantly affected muscle fiber type I composition (p<0.05), loin-eye area of lean meat content (p<0.05) and filter-fluid uptake of meat quality (p<0.01). Furthermore, dominant effects significantly influenced total muscle fiber number (p<0.05). This study suggests that the novel p.A41P mutation in porcine MYF5 may be a valuable genetic marker to affect the muscle fiber characteristics and consequently improve meat production quality and quantity.