Association and expression study of SEPW1 and JAML as preliminary candidate genes related to lamb odor and flavor.

The current study aimed to identify the and genes in lamb as candidate genes related to lamb odor and flavor. The polymorphism study showed that the gene was polymorphic at the BanI restriction site with three genotypes (AA, AG, and GG), whereas the gene was monomorphic at HhaI with genotype (GG). The association of between genotype and lamb odor and flavor (BCFAs and skatole) was analyzed using GLM (General Linear Model). MNA (4-methylnonanoic) was significantly associated ( < 0.05) with lamb odor and flavor. AA genotype has a lower level of MNA than AG and GG, while MOA (4-methyloctanoic), EOA(4-ethyloctanoic), MI (3-methylindole) and MP (3-methylphenol) was not significantly associated with lamb odor and flavor ( > 0.05). Furthermore, to analyze the mRNA expression of in liver tissues, the lambs were divided into three groups based on the genotypes AA, AG, and GG, however, mRNA expression was not differentially expressed between AA, AG, and GG ( > 0.05). These results will enhance the understanding of the functions of gene relation to odor and flavor traits and will shed light on the polymorphism of gene in lamb as a candidate gene for reducing MNA in lamb.