No association between mutations in the porcine HSP 70.2 gene promoter andperformance traits in an experimental F-2 population

The Heat Shock Proteins (HSP) are involved in the cellular stress reaction. Therefore, the HSP genes are considered as candidates for performance and health traits that are susceptible to stress. Based on the sequence of the promoter- and 3'UTR region of the porcine HSP 70.2 gene in the investigated experimental cross (F-2 design) we found only one of the previously descri bed polymorphisms in the HSP 70.2 gene. Thus, we had the opportunity to tes t the TATA box mutation on an causative influence on the variation of 40 qu antitative performance traits. However, the association analyses in 288 P-2 offspring revealed no significant impact of the HSP genotypes. We conclude that the TATA box mutation of the HSP 70.2 gene has no causative influence on the variation of growth, carcass value and meat quality in pigs.