{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,10]],"date-time":"2025-10-10T01:31:50Z","timestamp":1760059910840,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":54,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"14","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,19]],"date-time":"2025-07-19T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1752883200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"\u201cGen.Al.Tec.\u201d; Linea 1\u2014PIAno di inCEntivi per la RIcerca di Ateneo 2024\/2026","award":["CUP G46D20000130009"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CUP G46D20000130009"]}]},{"name":"P.I. Andrea Criscione","award":["CUP G46D20000130009"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CUP G46D20000130009"]}]},{"name":"\u201cREDSUS\u201d PSR Sicilia 14\/20\u2013Operazione 16.1b","award":["CUP G46D20000130009"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["CUP G46D20000130009"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Nero Siciliano (NS) is an autochthonous pig breed reared in northeastern Sicily; despite its high-quality meat products, NS is currently endangered. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic variability at nine loci within candidate genes for meat traits\u2014Melanocortin 4 Receptor (MC4R), Ryanodine Receptor 1 (RYR1), Class 3 Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PIK3C3) and Leptin (LEP)\u2014to provide useful information for preservation and exploitation of the NS pig breed. Distribution of the genetic variants was assessed in a representative sample of 87 pigs (18 boars and 69 sows) collected in nine farms located in the original breeding area. Genotypes have been determined using PCR-RFLP and Sanger sequencing. Alleles linked to different growth rates and back fat deposition showed high frequencies (MC4R c.175C\u20140.93; LEP g.3469T\u20140.91) in the whole sample. Deviations from Hardy\u2013Weinberg equilibrium and different allele distribution in boars and sows were observed. The RYR1 g.1843T allele, associated with Malignant Hyperthermia and Pale Soft Exudative meat defect, was reported in seven heterozygote pigs (q = 0.04) with one farm exhibiting a frequency of 0.29. Our results suggest the need for continuous monitoring of the genetic variants in NS both to maintain high meat quality and eradicate the RYR1 g.1843T allele.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani15142143","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,21]],"date-time":"2025-07-21T07:56:14Z","timestamp":1753084574000},"page":"2143","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Genetic Variability of Loci Affecting Meat Quality and Production in Nero Siciliano Pig Breed"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8221-2490","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Serena","family":"Tumino","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Morena","family":"Carlentini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giorgio","family":"Chessari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6701-1906","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Criscione","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Aurora","family":"Antoci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8408-7443","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Donata","family":"Marletta","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8723-9457","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Salvatore","family":"Bordonaro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Alimentazione e Ambiente, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,19]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Lorsnaider, G. 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