Abstract

High levels of androstenone and skatole in fat tissues are considered the primary causes of boar taint, an unpleasant odour and flavour of the meat from non-castrated male pigs. The aim of this article is to review our current knowledge of the biology and genetic control of the accumulation of androstenone and skatole in fat tissue. Two QTL mapping studies have shown the complexity of the genetic control of these traits. During the last ten years, several authors have taken a more physiological approach to investigate the involvement of genes controlling the metabolism of androstenone and skatole. Although some authors have claimed the identification of candidate genes, it is more appropriate to talk about target genes. This suggests that genes affecting androstenone and skatole levels will have to be sought for among specific or non-specific transcription factors interacting with these target genes.

Details

Title
Genetic and metabolic aspects of androstenone and skatole deposition in pig adipose tissue: A review (Open Access publication)
Author
Robic, Annie 1 ; Larzul, Catherine 2 ; Bonneau, Michel 3 

 UMR 444 de Génétique cellulaire, INRA, Castanet-Tolosan, (GRID:grid.414548.8) (ISNI:0000 0001 2169 1988) 
 UR337 Station de génétique quantitative et appliquée, INRA, Jouy-en-Josas, (GRID:grid.417961.c) 
 UMR1079 Systèmes d'élevage, nutrition animale et humaine, INRA-Agrocampus Rennes, INRA, Saint-Gilles, (GRID:grid.460202.2) 
Publication year
2008
Publication date
Feb 2008
Publisher
BioMed Central
ISSN
0999193X
e-ISSN
12979686
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2729513475
Copyright
© INRA, EDP Sciences 2008. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.