Genetic Parameters of Calcium Activated Neutral Protease Activity in Skeletal Muscle of Satsuma Native Fowl.

This study was conducted in order to estimate the genetic parameters of Calcium Activated Neutral Protease (CANP) activity in the skeletal muscle of Satstuma native fowl (a Japanese native chicken stock). The CANP activity was measured at three weeks of age with alkali-denatured casein as substrate. Genetic parameters of CANP activity in the crude extract of breast muscle were estimated from sib-analysis. Variations among sire families of the CANP activity were both statistically significant (P<0.01) for unit/g muscle and for unit/mg extractable muscle protein. The heritability estimates of CANP activity calculated from sire component at 3 weeks of age were 0.62±0.03 and 0.51±0.03 for unit/g muscle and unit/mg extractable muscle protein, respectively. Phenotypic (rp) and genetic (rG(s)) correlation coefficients between body weight and the CANP activities were estimated as -0.17 and -0.70 for unit/g muscle, and -0.16 and -0.47 for unit/mg extractable protein. The rp and rG between fractional growth rate and the CANP activities were estimated as -0.08 and -0.01 for unit/g muscle, and -0.04 and -0.58 for unit/mg extractable protein, respectively.