Xu Q.L. author Tang G.W. author Zhang Q.L. author Huang Y.K. author Liu Y.X. author Quan K. author Zhu K.Y. author Zhang C.X. author text journal article 2011 The aim of this study was to assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) of sheep fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) gene with longissimus thoracis muscle (LT) meat quality traits in sheep. The FABP4 cDNA was cloned by RT-PCR method, and the sequence analysis showed that the open reading frame of sheep FABP4 is 399 bp and codes 132 amino acids. A mutation (A/G) detected in intron 1 of FABP4 gene was studied in 286 lambs of three Chinese native sheep breeds by PCR-SSCP procedure. Significant statistical association results revealed that AA genotype conferred higher tenderness (P < 0.05), muscle marbling score (P < 0.05) and intramuscular fat content (IMF; P < 0.05). Thus we suggested that the genotype AA could be regarded as a molecular marker for LT meat tenderness and IMF content in sheep. sheep; FABP4 gene; polymorphism; intramuscular fat 10.17221/231/2009-CJAS https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201101-0001.php https://cjas.agriculturejournals.cz/artkey/cjs-201101-0001.php continuing 56 1 1 6 2011 12121819 periodical academic journal