• Genes and Genomics
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• v.40 no.11
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• pp.1119-1125
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• 2018

Melanocortin 4 receptor: (MC4R) and Myostatin (MSTN) are two important growth trait-related genes in animals. In this study, we showed that two SNPs, MC4R-719A>G and MSTN-519C>T, found in the promoters of the MC4R and MSTN genes, respectively, are both associated with growth traits in Spinibarbus hollandi. Furthermore, we observed that there were significant associations between the expression levels of the MC4R and MSTN genes and these two growth trait-related SNPs. The expression level of MC4R gene in brain was lower in GG genotype fish with extremely high growth performance than that in AA genotype fish with extremely low growth performance. Expression level of the MSTN gene in muscle was lower in TT genotype fish with extremely high growth performance than that in CC and CT genotype fish with lower growth performance. The results indicated that these SNPs located in the promoters of MC4R and MSTN are associated with growth-related traits through modification of gene expression levels. The MSTN and MC4R SNPs may have useful application in effective marker-assisted selection aimed to increase output in S. hollandi.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.263-271
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• 2010

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR) constitute the largest superfamily of cell membrane receptors, mediating diverse signal-transduction pathways. The melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) has been of interest for its physiological role and size, one of the smallest among the GPCRs, which makes it a good model system for the structural study of GPCRs. To study the molecular structure and tissue-specific expression of MC4R in olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), the full-length MC4R gene was obtained using PCR amplification of genomic DNA as well as cDNA synthesis. Sequence analysis of the gene indicates that 978 bp of the MC4R gene encodes 325 amino acids without introns. Sequence alignment with the MC4Rs from other fish shows the highest degree of identity (96%) between Paralichthys olivaceous and Verasper moseri, followed by Takifugu rubripes and Tetraodon nigroviridis (89%). RNA was isolated from various tissues to examine the tissue distribution of MC4R by using RT-PCR. The results showed major expression of MC4R in the liver, brain, and eye, which is consistent with the expression pattern in other fish belonging to the order Pleuronectiformes.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.369-374
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to differentiate the beef species between Hanwoo and Holstein from a total of 1,081 beef samples using PCR-RFLP of MC1R gene. When a PCR product of 403 bp specific band amplified from bovine MC1R gene sequence was digested with restriction enzyme MspA1I, Hanwoo type showed 2 bands, 220 bp and 183 bp size bands. Holstein type, however, showed three bands, 220 bp, 138 bp and 45 bp size band, respectively. The results of the differential test for beef species were as following; 7 samples (0.64%) were determined to Holstein type, of which 4 were submitted from administrative authorities, other 3 from self-collection planing, and none from civilian clients including school.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.763-768
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• 2006

Genetic and pharmacological studies in mice have demonstrated a complementary role for the melanocortin 4 receptor (MC4R) in the control of food intake, energy balance and body weight. This study was designed to investigate the associations of a MC4R gene polymorphism on chicken growth and body composition traits in broiler lines divergently selected for abdominal fat. A SNP (G54C) was found in CDS region of chicken MC4R gene. The analysis of the least squares and variance revealed a significant association between the G54C SNP and BW, CW and SL at 7 wk of age, and there were significant differences in different genotypes (p<0.05). The results from protein secondary structure prediction and tertiary structure prediction showed that it appeared a helix in $13^{th}$ amino acid and two strands at $14^{th}$ and $15^{th}$ amino acid in mutant protein, respectively. It maybe induce the change of the activity or function of MC4R gene in poultry.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.437-442
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• 2007

The melanocortin-4 receptor(MC4R) is virtually expressed in all brain regions and plays an important role in energy homeostasis in mammals. MC4R has been intensively studied as a trait gene controlling economically important traits, such as growth and feed conversion, etc. Six hundreds and sixty Duroc pigs were genotyped for the MC4R locus and analyzed their relationships with breeding values for average daily gain(ADG), backfat thickness(BF), days to 90kg(D90) and feed conversion(FC). The estimated genotype frequencies for the all Duroc pigs were: 30.8%, 45.2%, 24.1% for AA, AB and BB genotypes, respectively. The mutant A allele was significantly associated with ADG, D90 and BF whereas no significant relationship was found with FC. The change of gene frequencies by generation was shown in both selected and culled groups. These results indicate that the MC4R polymorphism could be integrated in the present selection program to realize a marker-assisted selection for the growth traits of the Duroc population.

• Journal of the Korean Magnetic Resonance Society
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.34-45
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• 2012

Melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) subtype is associated with obese humans. Especially, in a patient with severe early-onset obesity, novel heterozygous mutation in the MC4R gene was detected, resulting in an exchange of aspartic acid to asparagine in $90^{th}$ amino acid residue located in the predicted second trans-membrane domain (TM2). Mutations in the melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R) gene are the most frequent monogenic causes of severe obesity which have been described as heterozygous with loss of function. In order to compare structure difference between MC4R wild type (MC4R-TM2-wt) and mutant (MC4R-TM2-D90N), we designed both MC4R-TM2-wt and MC4R-TM2-D90N construct in pET 21b vector. In this study, we optimized high-yield purification procedure for recombinant TM2-D90N. Eluted recombinant protein was resolubilized under urea condition for thrombin cleavage reaction and we conducted the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with reverse phase column under 1% acetonitrile, 0.01% TFA buffer solution. The molecular size of purified target peptide was confirmed by Tricine-SDS page analysis. To characterize MC4R-TM2-D90N, we have performed $^{15}N$-isotope labeling of peptide using M9 media and purified labeled target peptide for hetero-nuclear NMR spectroscopy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.557-562
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• 2007

This study was carried out to discriminate Hanwoo from the milking and hybrid cattle by detection of MC1R gene related to bovine hair color. One hundred sixty six samples were collected from the abattoir (n = 106) and local market (n = 60). The beef from abattoir were originated from Hanwoo (n=27), Holstein (n=29), Hybrid (n=45) and imported cattle (n=5), respectively. The beef from market consisted of Hanwoo (n=36), Holstein (n=7) and imported ones (n=17). Commercialized screening kit (Kogenebiotec, Korea) was used for MC1R gene analysis. As a result, Hanwoo was discriminated from Holstein. However, 9 of 45 hybrid and 11 of 22 imported beef samples were indistinguishable from Hanwoo. It could be explained by second generation of crossing of Hanwoo with Holstein or the cattle with silver or yellow hair. This results suggest that additional tests as well as MC1R gene detection be needed to confirm Hanwoo beef among cattle beef.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.569-576
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• 2007

receptor(MC4R) gene and carcass traits was examined in randomly selected commercial pigs. A porcine MC4R gene was genotyped for Asp298Asn(nt. 892G>A) by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP). A total of three genotypes, A/A, A/G, and G/G, were found with 28.8, 22.8, and 48.4% frequencies, respectively. In the whole population, pigs containing 892A/- showed significantly higher marbling score than those of homozygotes G/G(P<0.05). Two homozygotes, A/A and G/G showed lower in meat color score but higher in water holding capacity than those of heterozygotes A/G(P<0.01). However, the carcass weight of the barrows containing wild type -/G was significantly higher(i.e. more than 2.5kg) than those of homozygotes A/A(P<0.05). The effects of each genotype on carcass traits in the gilts were similar to those of the whole population, but not in barrows, suggesting an unknown sex-related effect on carcass traits. This study suggested that the genotype MC4R A/- could improve the meat quality in the commercial pig production. However, since the genetic polymorphism of MC4R gene differentially affected the carcass traits in sex-related manner, therefore, both parameters, the sex and genotype, should be considered for marker-assisted selection in commercial pig production.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the genotypes and frequencies of Melanocortin 1 Receptor(MC1R) genes in pigs which plays a central role in regulation of eumelanin (black/brown) and phaeomelanin(red/yellow) pigment synthesis within the mammalian melanocytes. Four different breeds of pigs(20 Landrace, 20 Yorkshire, 20 Duroc, and 93 Jeju native black pigs) were used and PCR-RFLP analysis of MC1R gene was also carried out. Two regions of MC1R genes (428bp and 405bp) were amplified using two specific primers (MERL1-EPIG2, EPIG1-EPIG3), respectively and MC1R allele were determined using 2 restriction enzymes (BspHⅠ, AccⅡ). The results of this experiment indicated that MC1R allelic type in Landrace, Large Yorkshire and Duroc were MC1R *2 (Ep), MC1R *2 (Ep), MC1R *4 (e), respectively. However, various allelic types of MC1R genes were detected in Jeju native black pigs. MC1R allelic type of Jeju black pigs was MC1R*2 type as in Meishan and Large black breeds or MC1R*3 type as in Hampshire and Berkshire breeds and the gene frequencies of ED1 and ED2 were 0.554 and 0.446 in average.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.968-971
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• 2005

The Melanocortin-4 receptor gene (MC4R) regulates the energy balance and the genetic basis of obesity. A polymorphism in the porcine melanocortin-4 receptor has previously shown to be associated with growth, fat deposition and feed intake. In this study, the polymorphism of the gene was studied in several pig breeds of Duroc, Landrace, Berkshire, and Yorkshire. The results showed that the frequencies of MC4R genotype varied among those breeds. Association analyses were also performed between the MC4R polymorphism and average daily gain, feed conversion ratio, backfat thickness and lean percentage phenotypes. The results strongly support that the MC4R polymorphism can be used DNA marker selection indicator for economically important traits for pig breeding program in Korea.