SNP discovery, expression and association analysis for the SDHD gene in pigs

The SDHD gene was examined for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) as well as for expression changes in the Longissimus dorsi muscle of commercial pigs with different potential for growth. Three SNPs, including one previously described in the coding region and two new ones in the 3'-UTR, were found. The normalized expression of SDHD was correlated with growth, meat quality and sensory traits (p < 0.05). For the commercial pigs used in this study, as well as a Berkshire × Yorkshire resource population, the SNPs have been associated (p < 0.05) with: growth, carcass composition, meat quality and sensory traits. Despite the fact that the described SNPs were not significantly associated with the normalized expression values, the SDHD SNPs and expression were associated with growth and meat quality traits in pigs.