Polymorphisms and expression analysis of SOX-6 in relation to porcine growth, carcass, and meat quality traits

• SOX-6 is associated with porcine growth, carcass, and meat quality traits.
• rs81358375 is associated with pH1L, fat deposition, and carcass length.
• rs321666676 is associated with meat colour.
• The protein level of SOX-6 is more abundant in low pH1L pigs.
• MicroRNAs targeting SOX-6 are differently expressed in divergent pH1L pigs.

The aim of the study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and expression of SOX-6 to support its candidacy for growth, carcass, and meat quality traits in pigs. The first SNP, rs81358375, was associated with pH 45 min post mortem in loin (pH1L), the thickness of backfat and side fat, and carcass length in Pietrain (Pi) population, and related with backfat thickness and daily gain in Duroc × Pietrain F2 (DuPi) population. The other SNP, rs321666676, was associated with meat colour in Pi population. In DuPi population, the protein, not mRNA, level of SOX-6 in high pH1L pigs was significantly less abundant compared with low pH1L pigs, where microRNAs targeting SOX-6 were also differently regulated. This paper shows that SOX-6 could be a potential candidate gene for porcine growth, carcass, and meat quality traits based on genetic association and gene expression.