Carbonic anhydrase 3 (CA3) is a member of the carbonic anhydrase family, which plays an important role in various cell processes. In this paper, molecular characterization revealed that CA3 genomic DNA consists of seven exons and six introns, spans about 10.5 kb and maps to porcine chromosome 4q11-->q14. Results of expression profiles showed that the expression levels of CA3 increased in skeletal muscles from prenatal 33- to 65-day-old Chinese Tongcheng pigs. These levels subsequently decreased to a steady state in prenatal 90-day-old, postnatal 2-day-old, postnatal 28-day-old, and pregnant 65-day-old pigs. The expression patterns of Chinese Tongcheng pig embryos were different from that of Landrace pig embryos. CA3 was expressed at higher levels in skeletal muscle and liver than in kidney, lung, stomach, intestine, and brain, but was not detected in heart and spleen. Statistical analysis showed the CA3 gene polymorphism was different between Chinese indigenous and introduced commercial western pig breeds, and was associated with intramuscular fat content and percentage of ham of pigs.
Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.