A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the 3' untranslated region of the LPIN1 gene and association analysis with performance traits in chicken.

1. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), c.*77C>G, was found in the 3' UTR of the chicken LPIN1 gene by DNA sequencing. In total, 860 chickens were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in a F2 resource population obtained by crossing F0 Gushi chickens and Anka broilers, and the associations of this polymorphism with chicken growth, carcass, muscle fibre traits and serum biochemistry parameters were analysed. 2. Significant associations were found between the polymorphism and breast muscle fibre diameter (FDB). Comparison of the different genotypes of c.*77C>G in the F2 resource population showed that the GG genotype had significantly higher values than that of CG genotype in FDB. c.*77C>G was predicted to cause changes to multiple microRNA (miRNA) binding sites. But the total mRNA level of chicken LPIN1, LPIN1-;α and LPIN1-β in liver and muscle tissues did not show significant difference among GG, CG and CC genotypes, respectively. 3. The results suggested that chicken LPIN1 has a potential effect on muscle fibre development, but no effect on other studied traits.