Association of histamine-N-methyl transferase gene polymorphisms with carnosine content in red-brown Korean native chickens

Abstract

Objective: Carnosine and anserine affect the meat flavor. The contents of carnosine and anserine in meat are affected by genetic and environmental factors. This study aimed to discover the single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the histamine-N-methyl transferase (<i>HNMT</i>) and histamine-N-methyl transferase-like (<i>HNMT-like</i>) genes and to associate them with the content of carnosine and anserine in Korean native chickenred brown line (KNC-R).Methods: This study used a total of 384 birds (males, n = 192; females, n = 192) aged 10 weeks old, for genotyping <i>HNMT</i> and <i>HNMT-like</i> genes. One synonymous SNP (rs29009298C/T) of the <i>HNMT</i> gene was genotyped by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methods whereas four missense SNPs (rs734406537G/A; rs736514667A/G; rs15881680G/A and rs316765035T/C) of the <i>HNMT</i> gene, and one missense SNP rs737657949A/C of the <i>HNMT-like</i> gene were genotyped by PCR allele competitive extension (PACE) genotyping technology. Two-way analysis of variance of the R program was used to associate <i>HNMT</i> genotypes with the contents of carnosine and anserine in KNC-R chickens.Results: There were significant associations (p<0.05) between the genotypes of the synonymous SNP:rs29009298C/T, missense SNP rs736514667A/G of the <i>HNMT</i> gene and the content of carnosine in KNC-Rs. This study also reported the sex effect on the carnosine content, where females had more content of carnosine compared to that of male KNC-R.Conclusion: Two SNPs (synonymous: rs735769522C/T) and missense: rs736514667A/G) in the <i>HNMT</i> gene might be used as genetic markers in the selection and breeding of chickens with better taste and high-flavored meat.