An intronic SNP affects skeletal muscle development by regulating the expression of TP63 .

Background: Porcine skeletal muscle development is pivotal for improving meat production. TP63 , a transcription factor, regulates vital cellular processes, yet its role in skeletal muscle proliferation is unclear.
Methods: The effects of TP63 on skeletal muscle cell viability and proliferation were investigated using both mouse and porcine skeletal muscle myoblasts. Selective sweep analysis in Western pigs identified TP63 as a potential candidate gene for skeletal muscle development. The correlation between TP63 overexpression and cell proliferation was assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EDU).
Results: The study revealed a positive correlation between TP63 overexpression and skeletal muscle cell proliferation. Bioinformatics analysis predicted an interaction between MEF2A, another transcription factor, and the mutation site of TP63 . Experimental validation through dual-luciferase assays confirmed that a candidate enhancer SNP could influence MEF2A binding, subsequently regulating TP63 expression and promoting skeletal muscle cell proliferation.
Conclusion: These findings offer experimental evidence for further exploration of skeletal muscle development mechanisms and the advancement of genetic breeding strategies aimed at improving meat production traits.
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
(Copyright © 2024 Chen, Wang, Qu, Song, Tang, Li, Cao and Yi.)