Submitted to: Animal Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 4, 2002
Publication Date: November 2, 2002
Citation: Jacobs, K., Van Poucke, M., Mattheeuws, M., Chardon, P., Yerle, M., Rohrer, G.A., Van Zeveren, A., Peelman, L.J. 2002. Characterization of the porcine melanocortin 2 receptor gene (MC2R). Animal Genetics 33:415-421. Interpretive Summary: Two genes which affect food intake and energy metabolism (melanocortin 2 receptor and melanocortin 5 receptor) were studied and mapped in the pig. Structures of both genes were determined and tissues were evaluated for levels of message expressed. Expression of the melanocortin 2 receptor was not detected in any of the 12 tissues evaluated, but melanocortin 5 receptor was detected in kidney, fat, pancreas and spleen. Both genes were evaluated for changes in the sequence which could affect the protien product but none were found. It was determined that both genes were close to each other in the pig genome and that they map to pig chromosome 6 at position 97 cM. This study was unable to identify any variation which could be responsible for differences in growth rate or body composition in the pigs examined.