IGF2 gene characterization and association with rib eye area in beef cattle

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is an imprinted gene expressed in most tissues affecting lean muscle content in mice, pigs and cattle. We previously identified the bovine IGF2 c.-292C > T SNP in the non-translated exon 2. Using this SNP, we demonstrated biallelic expression of IGF2 after birth. Seven alternatively spliced mRNA transcripts of IGF2 were expressed among 15 tissues. An IGF2 pseudogene (psi IGF2) was identified with sequence identical to at least IGF2 exons 2 and 3 without the intervening intron. The biallelic expression of this c.-292C > T SNP was associated with an increase in rib eye area (REA) in two populations of cattle, with the C.-292C allele associated with a 10% increase. A significant association with per cent fat was found in one of the populations.