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Reissmann M, Ullrich E, Bergfeld U, Ludwig A. Agouti-Signaling Protein and Melanocortin-1-Receptor Mutations Associated with Coat Color Phenotypes in Fallow Deer ( Dama dama). Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1055. [PMID: 39202415 PMCID: PMC11353312 DOI: 10.3390/genes15081055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2024] [Revised: 08/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Four dominant coat color phenotypes are found in fallow deer (Dama dama). Brown is the most common. Black, menil, and white occur with varying frequencies. In order to gain insights into the molecular genetic background of these phenotypes, 998 fallow animals (772 brown, 62 black, 126 menil, and 38 white) were examined for mutations in the ASIP, MC1R, TYR, and SLC45A2 genes. In ASIP, two mutations (ASIP-M-E2, located at the boundary from exon 2 to intron 2; and ASIP-M-E3, an InDel of five nucleotides) were found, leading to black fallow deer being either homozygous or heterozygous in combination. There were also two mutations found in MC1R. Whereby the mutation MC1R-M1 (leucine to proline, L48P) homozygous leads to a white coat, while the mutation MC1R-M2 (glycine to aspartic acid, G236D) homozygous is associated with the menil phenotype. When both mutations occur together in a heterozygous character state, it results in a menil coat. Since the mutations in the two genes are only present alternatively, 36 genotypes can be identified that form color clusters to which all animals can be assigned. No mutations were found in the TYR and SLC45A2 genes. Our investigations demonstrate that the four dominant coat colors in fallow deer can be explained by ASIP and MC1R mutations only.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Reissmann
- Humboldt University Berlin, Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, 10099 Berlin, Germany;
| | - Evelin Ullrich
- Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Livestock Husbandry, 04886 Köllitsch, Germany; (E.U.); (U.B.)
| | - Uwe Bergfeld
- Saxon State Office for Environment, Agriculture and Geology, Livestock Husbandry, 04886 Köllitsch, Germany; (E.U.); (U.B.)
| | - Arne Ludwig
- Humboldt University Berlin, Thaer-Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Sciences, 10099 Berlin, Germany;
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo & Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, 10315 Berlin, Germany
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Melo Rojas C, Bravo Matheus PW, Zapata Coacalla C, Lopez Durand V, Melo Anccasi M. MC1R Gene Variants and Their Relationship with Coat Color in South American Camelids. ScientificWorldJournal 2023; 2023:4871135. [PMID: 37786645 PMCID: PMC10541998 DOI: 10.1155/2023/4871135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In domestic camelids, fleece color is an essential characteristic because it defines the direction of production. Variants were determined in the MC1R gene that showed a relationship with coat color in alpacas and llamas at the level of the coding region. This report sequenced the MC1R gene from 290 alpacas (142 white, 84 black, 50 brown, and 14 light fawn), five brown llamas, nine vicuñas, and three guanacos to analyze the association between coat color and the MC1R gene among South American camelids. A total of nineteen polymorphisms were identified. Seven polymorphisms were significant; three of them were of nonsynonymous type (c.82A > G, c.376G > A, and c.901C > T), two were of synonymous type (c.126 T > C and c.933G > A), one was in the promoter region (-42C > G), and one was in the 3' UTR (+5T > C). More polymorphisms were found in domestic camelids than in wild camelids. Besides polymorphism, the association of polymorphisms might cause white and dark pigmentation in the fleece of South American camelids. In addition, the MC1R protein would answer the pigmentation in alpacas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Melo Rojas
- Laboratorio de Genetica, Escuela Profesional de Medicina Veterinaria Canchis, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco, Cusco, Peru
| | - P. Walter Bravo Matheus
- Laboratorio de Genetica, Escuela Profesional de Medicina Veterinaria Canchis, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco, Cusco, Peru
| | - Celso Zapata Coacalla
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru
| | - Victor Lopez Durand
- Laboratorio de Genetica, Escuela Profesional de Medicina Veterinaria Canchis, National University of Saint Anthony the Abbot in Cuzco, Cusco, Peru
| | - Maximo Melo Anccasi
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional del Altiplano, Puno, Peru
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Anello M, Daverio MS, Di Rocco F. Genetics of coat color and fiber production traits in llamas and alpacas. Anim Front 2022; 12:78-86. [PMID: 35974792 PMCID: PMC9374512 DOI: 10.1093/af/vfac050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Melina Anello
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE), CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
| | - María Silvana Daverio
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE), CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Florencia Di Rocco
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular (IMBICE), CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
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Calderon M, More MJ, Gutierrez GA, Ponce de León FA. Development of a 76k Alpaca ( Vicugna pacos) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) Microarray. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12020291. [PMID: 33669871 PMCID: PMC7923280 DOI: 10.3390/genes12020291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Small farm producers’ sustenance depends on their alpaca herds and the production of fiber. Genetic improvement of fiber characteristics would increase their economic benefits and quality of life. The incorporation of molecular marker technology could overcome current limitations for the implementation of genetic improvement programs. Hence, the aim of this project was the generation of an alpaca single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) microarray. A sample of 150 Huacaya alpacas from four farms, two each in Puno and Cerro de Pasco were used for SNP discovery by genotyping by sequencing (GBS). Reduced representation libraries, two per animal, were produced after DNA digestion with ApeK1 and double digestion with Pst1-Msp1. Ten alpaca genomes, sequenced at depths between 12× to 30×, and the VicPac3.1 reference genome were used for read alignments. Bioinformatics analysis discovered 76,508 SNPs included in the microarray. Candidate genes SNPs (302) for fiber quality and color are also included. The microarray SNPs cover 90.5% of the genome length with a density of about 39 ± 2.51 SNPs/Mb of DNA at an average interval of 26.45 ± 18.57 kbp. The performance was evaluated by genotyping 30 family trios and comparing them to their pedigrees, as well as comparing microarray to GBS genotypes. Concordance values of 0.93 and 0.94 for ApeK1 and Pst1-Msp1 generated SNPs were observed. Similarly, 290 fiber quality and color candidate gene SNPs were validated. Availability of this microarray will facilitate genome-wide association studies, marker-assisted selection and, in time, genomic selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Calderon
- Facultad de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru; (M.C.); (M.J.M.); (G.A.G.)
- Escuela de Formación Profesional de Zootecnia, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcídes Carrión, Cerro de Pasco 19001, Peru
| | - Manuel J. More
- Facultad de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru; (M.C.); (M.J.M.); (G.A.G.)
| | - Gustavo A. Gutierrez
- Facultad de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru; (M.C.); (M.J.M.); (G.A.G.)
| | - Federico Abel Ponce de León
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55108, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-612-419-7870
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Pallotti S, Chandramohan B, Pediconi D, Nocelli C, La Terza A, Renieri C. Interaction between the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signalling protein genes (ASIP), and their association with black and brown coat colour phenotypes in peruvian alpaca. ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/1828051x.2020.1850216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Pallotti
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della salute, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - Dario Pediconi
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della salute, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Cristina Nocelli
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della salute, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Antonietta La Terza
- Scuola di Bioscienze e Medicina Veterinaria, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | - Carlo Renieri
- Scuola di Scienze del Farmaco e dei Prodotti della salute, University of Camerino, Camerino, Italy
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Anderson H, Honkanen L, Ruotanen P, Mathlin J, Donner J. Comprehensive genetic testing combined with citizen science reveals a recently characterized ancient MC1R mutation associated with partial recessive red phenotypes in dog. Canine Med Genet 2020; 7:16. [PMID: 33292722 PMCID: PMC7643265 DOI: 10.1186/s40575-020-00095-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) plays a central role in regulation of coat color determination in various species and is commonly referred to as the “E (extension) Locus”. Allelic variation of the MC1R gene is associated with coat color phenotypes EM (melanistic mask), EG (grizzle/domino) and e1–3 (recessive red) in dogs. In addition, a previous study of archeological dog specimens over 10,000 years of age identified a variant p.R301C in the MC1R gene that may have influenced coat color of early dogs. Results Commercial genotyping of 11,750 dog samples showed the R301C variant of the MC1R gene was present in 35 breeds or breed varieties, at an allele frequency of 1.5% in the tested population. We detected no linkage disequilibrium between R301C and other tested alleles of the E locus. Based on current convention we propose that R301C should be considered a novel allele of the E locus, which we have termed eA for “e ancient red”. Phenotype analysis of owner-provided dog pictures reveals that the eA allele has an impact on coat color and is recessive to wild type E and dominant to the e alleles. In dominant black (KB/*) dogs it can prevent the phenotypic expression of the K locus, and the expressed coat color is solely determined by the A locus. In the absence of dominant black, eA/eA and eA/e genotypes result in the coat color patterns referred to in their respective breed communities as domino in Alaskan Malamute and other Spitz breeds, grizzle in Chihuahua, and pied in Beagle. Conclusions This study demonstrates a large genotype screening effort to identify the frequency and distribution of the MC1R R301C variant, one of the earliest mutations captured by canine domestication, and citizen science empowered characterization of its impact on coat color. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40575-020-00095-7.
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Chemical and Structural Composition of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) Skin with a Focus on Collagen Crosslinks. Small Rumin Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2020.106144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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González BA, Agapito AM, Novoa-Muñoz F, Vianna J, Johnson WE, Marín JC. Utility of genetic variation in coat color genes to distinguish wild, domestic and hybrid South American camelids for forensic and judicial applications. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2019; 45:102226. [PMID: 31884178 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2019.102226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A molecular genetic protocol for distinguishing pure and hybrid South American camelids was developed to provide strong, quantifiable, and unbiased species identification. We detail the application of the approach in the context of a criminal case in the Andes Mountains of central Chile where the defendants were alleged to have illegally hunted three wild guanacos (Lama guanicoe), as opposed to hybrid domestic llama (Lama glama)/wild guanaco crosses, which are unregulated. We describe a workflow that differentiates among wild, domestic and hybrid South American camelids (Lama versus Vicugna) based on mitochondrial cytochrome b genetic variation (to distinguish between Lama and Vicugna), and MC1R and exon 4 variation of the ASIP gene (to differentiate wild from domestic species). Additionally, we infer the population origin and sex of each of the three individuals from a panel of 15 autosomal microsatellite loci and the presence or absence of the SRY gene. Our analyses strongly supported the inference that the confiscated carcasses corresponded with 2 male and 1 female guanacos that were hunted illegally. Statistical power analyses suggested that there was an extremely low probability of misidentifying domestic camelids as wild camelids (an estimated 0 % Type I error rate), or using more conservative approached a 1.17 % chance of misidentification of wild species as domestic camelids (Type II error). Our case report and methodological and analytical protocols demonstrate the power of genetic variation in coat color genes to identify hybrids between wild and domestic camelid species and highlight the utility of the approach to help combat illegal wildlife hunting and trafficking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benito A González
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Vida Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile, Chile; South American Camelid Specialist Group, Species Survival Commission, International Union for Conservation of Nature
| | - Ana María Agapito
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
| | - Francisco Novoa-Muñoz
- Departamento de Estadística, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Concepción, Chile
| | - Juliana Vianna
- Departamento de Ecosistemas y Medio Ambiente, Facultad de Agronomía e Ingeniería Forestal, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Warren E Johnson
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States; Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Smithsonian Institution, Suitland, MD, United States
| | - Juan Carlos Marín
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile.
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9
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Almathen F, Elbir H, Bahbahani H, Mwacharo J, Hanotte O. Polymorphisms in MC1R and ASIP Genes are Associated with Coat Color Variation in the Arabian Camel. J Hered 2019; 109:700-706. [PMID: 29893870 PMCID: PMC6108395 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esy024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pigmentation in mammals is primarily determined by the distribution of eumelanin and pheomelanin, the ratio of which is mostly controlled by the activity of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) genes. Using 91 animals from 10 Arabian camel populations, that included the 4 predominant coat color phenotypes observed in the dromedary (light brown, dark brown, black, and white), we investigated the effects of the MC1R and ASIP sequence variants and identified candidate polymorphisms associated with coat color variation. In particular, we identified a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), found in the coding region of MC1R (901C/T), linked to the white coat color, whereas a 1-bp deletion (23delT/T) and a SNP (25G/A) in exon 2 of ASIP are associated with both black and dark-brown coat colors. Our results also indicate support that the light-brown coat color is likely the ancestral coat color for the dromedary. These sequence variations at the MC1R and ASIP genes represent the first documented evidence of candidate polymorphisms associated with Mendelian traits in the dromedary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faisal Almathen
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Animal Husbandry, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.,The Camel Research Center, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haitham Elbir
- The Camel Research Center, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Bahbahani
- The Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
| | - Joram Mwacharo
- The International Centre for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) c/o ILRI-Ethiopia Campus, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Olivier Hanotte
- The School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK.,LiveGene, International Livestock Research Institute, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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10
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Richardson MF, Munyard K, Croft LJ, Allnutt TR, Jackling F, Alshanbari F, Jevit M, Wright GA, Cransberg R, Tibary A, Perelman P, Appleton B, Raudsepp T. Chromosome-Level Alpaca Reference Genome VicPac3.1 Improves Genomic Insight Into the Biology of New World Camelids. Front Genet 2019; 10:586. [PMID: 31293619 PMCID: PMC6598621 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of high-quality chromosomally assigned reference genomes constitutes a key feature for understanding genome architecture of a species and is critical for the discovery of the genetic blueprints of traits of biological significance. South American camelids serve people in extreme environments and are important fiber and companion animals worldwide. Despite this, the alpaca reference genome lags far behind those available for other domestic species. Here we produced a chromosome-level improved reference assembly for the alpaca genome using the DNA of the same female Huacaya alpaca as in previous assemblies. We generated 190X Illumina short-read, 8X Pacific Biosciences long-read and 60X Dovetail Chicago® chromatin interaction scaffolding data for the assembly, used testis and skin RNAseq data for annotation, and cytogenetic map data for chromosomal assignments. The new assembly VicPac3.1 contains 90% of the alpaca genome in just 103 scaffolds and 76% of all scaffolds are mapped to the 36 pairs of the alpaca autosomes and the X chromosome. Preliminary annotation of the assembly predicted 22,462 coding genes and 29,337 isoforms. Comparative analysis of selected regions of the alpaca genome, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), the region involved in the Minute Chromosome Syndrome (MCS) and candidate genes for high-altitude adaptations, reveal unique features of the alpaca genome. The alpaca reference genome VicPac3.1 presents a significant improvement in completeness, contiguity and accuracy over VicPac2 and is an important tool for the advancement of genomics research in all New World camelids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark F Richardson
- Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.,Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Kylie Munyard
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Larry J Croft
- Genomics Centre, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Theodore R Allnutt
- Bioinformatics Core Research Group, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Felicity Jackling
- Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fahad Alshanbari
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Matthew Jevit
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Gus A Wright
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Rhys Cransberg
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Ahmed Tibary
- Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Polina Perelman
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Belinda Appleton
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
| | - Terje Raudsepp
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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Anello M, Fernández E, Daverio MS, Vidal-Rioja L, Di Rocco F. TYR Gene in Llamas: Polymorphisms and Expression Study in Different Color Phenotypes. Front Genet 2019; 10:568. [PMID: 31249599 PMCID: PMC6582663 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tyrosinase, encoded by TYR gene, is an enzyme that plays a major role in mammalian pigmentation. It catalyzes the oxidation of L-dihydroxy-phenylalanine (DOPA) to DOPA quinone, a precursor of both types of melanin: eumelanin and pheomelanin. TYR is commonly known as the albino locus since mutations in this gene result in albinism in several species. However, many other TYR mutations have been found to cause diluted phenotypes, like the Himalayan or chinchilla phenotypes in mice. The llama (Lama glama) presents a wide variety of coat colors ranging from non-diluted phenotypes (eumelanic and pheomelanic), through different degrees of dilution, to white. To investigate the possible contribution of TYR gene to coat color variation in llamas, we sequenced TYR exons and their flanking regions and genotyped animals with diluted, non-diluted, and white coat, including three blue-eyed white individuals. Moreover, we analyzed mRNA expression levels in skin biopsies by qPCR. TYR coding region presented nine SNPs, of which three were non-synonymous, c.428A > G, c.859G > T, and c.1490G > T. We also identified seven polymorphisms in non-coding regions, including two microsatellites, an homopolymeric repeat, and five SNPs: one in the promoter region (c.1-26C > T), two in the 3'-UTR, and two flanking the exons. Although no complete association was found between coat color and SNPs, c.1-26C > T was partially associated to diluted phenotypes. Additionally, the frequency of the G allele from c.428A > G was significantly higher in white compared to non-diluted. Results from qPCR showed that expression levels of TYR in white llamas were significantly lower (p < 0.05) than those in diluted and non-diluted phenotypes. Screening for variation in regulatory regions of TYR did not reveal polymorphisms that explain such differences. However, data from this study showed that TYR expression levels play a role in llama pigmentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melina Anello
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Estefanía Fernández
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
| | - María Silvana Daverio
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina.,Cátedra de Biología, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Lidia Vidal-Rioja
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Florencia Di Rocco
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celular, CONICET-UNLP-CIC, La Plata, Argentina
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12
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Alshanbari F, Castaneda C, Juras R, Hillhouse A, Mendoza MN, Gutiérrez GA, Ponce de León FA, Raudsepp T. Comparative FISH-Mapping of MC1R, ASIP, and TYRP1 in New and Old World Camelids and Association Analysis With Coat Color Phenotypes in the Dromedary ( Camelus dromedarius). Front Genet 2019; 10:340. [PMID: 31040864 PMCID: PMC6477024 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), the agouti signaling protein (ASIP), and tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1) are among the major regulators of pigmentation in mammals. Recently, MC1R and ASIP sequence variants were associated with white and black/dark brown coat colors, respectively, in the dromedary. Here we confirmed this association by independent sequencing and mutation discovery of MC1R and ASIP coding regions and by TaqMan genotyping in 188 dromedaries from Saudi Arabia and United States, including 38 black, 53 white, and 97 beige/brown/red animals. We showed that heterozygosity for a missense mutation c.901C > T in MC1R is sufficient for the white coat color suggesting a possible dominant negative effect. Likewise, we confirmed that the majority of black dromedaries were homozygous for a frameshift mutation in ASIP exon 2, except for 4 animals, which were heterozygous. In search for additional mutations underlying the black color, we identified another frameshift mutation in ASIP exon 4 and 6 new variants in MC1R including a significantly associated SNP in 3'UTR. In pursuit of sequence variants that may modify dromedary wild-type color from dark-reddish brown to light beige, we identified 4 SNPs and one insertion in TYRP1 non-coding regions. However, none of these were associated with variations in wild-type colors. Finally, the three genes were cytogenetically mapped in New World (alpaca) and Old World (dromedary and Bactrian camel) camelids. The MC1R was assigned to chr21, ASIP to chr19 and TYRP1 to chr4 in all 3 species confirming extensive conservation of camelid karyotypes. Notably, while the locations of ASIP and TYRP1 were in agreement with human-camelid comparative map, mapping MC1R identified a new evolutionary conserved synteny segment between camelid chromosome 21 and HSA16. The findings contribute to coat color genomics and the development of molecular tests in camelids and toward the chromosome level reference assemblies of camelid genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahad Alshanbari
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Caitlin Castaneda
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Rytis Juras
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Andrew Hillhouse
- Institute for Genome Sciences and Society, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Mayra N. Mendoza
- Animal Breeding Program, National Agrarian University La Molina, Lima, Peru
| | | | | | - Terje Raudsepp
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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13
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Marín JC, Rivera R, Varas V, Cortés J, Agapito A, Chero A, Chávez A, Johnson WE, Orozco-terWengel P. Genetic Variation in Coat Colour Genes MC1R and ASIP Provides Insights Into Domestication and Management of South American Camelids. Front Genet 2018; 9:487. [PMID: 30483307 PMCID: PMC6242857 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2018.00487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The domestication of wild vicuña and guanaco by early pre-Inca cultures is an iconic example of wildlife management and domestication in the Americas. Although domestic llamas and alpacas were clearly selected for key, yet distinct, phenotypic traits, the relative patterns and direction of selection and domestication have not been confirmed using genetic approaches. However, the detailed archaeological records from the region suggest that domestication was a process carried out under significant control and planning, which would have facilitated coordinated and thus extremely effective selective pressure to achieve and maintain desired phenotypic traits. Here we link patterns of sequence variation in two well-characterised genes coding for colour variation in vertebrates and interpret the results in the context of domestication in guanacos and vicuñas. We hypothesise that colour variation in wild populations of guanacos and vicunas were strongly selected against. In contrast, variation in coat colour variation in alpaca was strongly selected for and became rapidly fixed in alpacas. In contrast, coat colour variants in llamas were of less economic value, and thus were under less selective pressure. We report for the first time the full sequence of MC1R and 3 exons of ASIP in 171 wild specimens from throughout their distribution and which represented a range of commonly observed colour patterns. We found a significant difference in the number of non-synonymous substitutions, but not synonymous substitutions among wild and domestics species. The genetic variation in MC1R and ASIP did not differentiate alpaca from llama due to the high degree of reciprocal introgression, but the combination of 11 substitutions are sufficient to distinguish domestic from wild animals. Although there is gene flow among domestic and wild species, most of the non-synonymous variation in MC1R and ASIP was not observed in wild species, presumably because these substitutions and the associated colour phenotypes are not effectively transmitted back into wild populations. Therefore, this set of substitutions unequivocally differentiates wild from domestic animals, which will have important practical application in forensic cases involving the poaching of wild vicuñas and guanacos. These markers will also assist in identifying and studying archaeological remains pre- and post-domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan C. Marín
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
| | - Romina Rivera
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
- Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Santo Tomas, Iquique, Chile
| | - Valeria Varas
- Doctorado en Ciencias, Mención Ecología y Evolución, Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales & Evolutivas, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Jorge Cortés
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
- Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Ana Agapito
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
| | - Ana Chero
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
| | - Alexandra Chávez
- Laboratorio de Genómica y Biodiversidad, Departamento de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán, Chile
| | - Warren E. Johnson
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, United States
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14
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Polymorphisms in MC1R and ASIP genes and their association with coat color phenotypes in llamas (Lama glama). Small Rumin Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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15
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Feeley NL, Bottomley S, Munyard KA. Novel mutations in Vicugna pacos (alpaca) Tyrp1 are not correlated with brown fibre colour phenotypes. Small Rumin Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2016.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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Yang S, Fan R, Shi Z, Ji K, Zhang J, Wang H, Herrid M, Zhang Q, Yao J, Smith GW, Dong C. Identification of a novel microRNA important for melanogenesis in alpaca (Vicugna pacos). J Anim Sci 2016; 93:1622-31. [PMID: 26020184 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2014-8404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of coat colors in animals are poorly understood. Recent studies have demonstrated that microRNA play important roles in the control of melanogenesis and coat color in mammals. In a previous study, we characterized the miRNA expression profiles in alpaca skin with brown and white coat color and identified a novel miRNA (named lpa-miR-nov-66) that is expressed significantly higher in white skin compared to brown skin. The present study was conducted to determine the functional roles of this novel miRNA in the regulation of melanogenesis in alpaca melanocytes. lpa-miR-nov-66 is predicted to target the soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) gene based on presence of a binding site in the sGC coding sequence (CDS). Overexpression of lpa-miR-nov-66 in alpaca melanocyes upregulated the expression of sGC both at the mRNA and protein level. Overexpression of lpa-miR-nov-66 in melanocyes also resulted in decreased expression of key melanogenic genes including tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1), and microphthalmia transcription factor (MITF). Our ELISA assays showed increased cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) but decreased cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) production in melanocytes overexpressing lpa-miR-nov-66. In addition, overexpression of lpa-miR-nov-66 also reduced melanin production in cultured melanocytes. Results support a role of lpa-miR-nov-66 in melanocytes by directly or indirectly targeting , which regulates melanogenesis via the cAMP pathway.
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17
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Yu X, He X, Jiang J, He J, Fan R, Wang H, Geng J, Dong C. Expression and tissue distribution of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor (c-Met) in alpacas (Vicugna pacos) skins associated with white and brown coat colors. Acta Histochem 2015; 117:624-8. [PMID: 26099836 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2015.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 05/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signaling has been considered as a key pathway in both melanocyte development and melanogenesis. To understand better the expression patterns and tissue distribution characterization of HGF and its receptor c-Met in skin of white versus brown alpaca (Vicugna pacos), we detected the tissue distribution of HGF and c-Met using immunohistochemistry and analyzed the expression patterns by using Western blot and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR). Immunohistochemistry analysis demonstrated that HGF staining robustly increased in the dermal papilla and mesenchymal cells of white alpaca skin compared with that of brown. However, c-Met staining showed strongly positive result, particularly inhair matrix and root sheath in brown alpaca skin. Western blot and qPCR results suggested that HGF and c-Met were expressed at significantly high levels in white and brown alpaca skins, respectively, and protein and transcripts possessed the same expression pattern in white and brown alpaca skins. The results suggested that HGF/c-Met signaling functions in alpaca coat color formation offer essential theoretical basis for further exploration of the role of HGF/c-Met signaling in pigment formation.
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18
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The alpaca melanocortin 1 receptor: gene mutations, transcripts, and relative levels of expression in ventral skin biopsies. ScientificWorldJournal 2015; 2015:265751. [PMID: 25685836 PMCID: PMC4313674 DOI: 10.1155/2015/265751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2014] [Revised: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of the present study were to characterize the MC1R gene, its transcripts and the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with coat color in alpaca. Full length cDNA amplification revealed the presence of two transcripts, named as F1 and F2, differing only in the length of their 5′-terminal untranslated region (UTR) sequences and presenting a color specific expression. Whereas the F1 transcript was common to white and colored (black and brown) alpaca phenotypes, the shorter F2 transcript was specific to white alpaca. Further sequencing of the MC1R gene in white and colored alpaca identified a total of twelve SNPs; among those nine (four silent mutations (c.126C>A, c.354T>C, c.618G>A, and c.933G>A); five missense mutations (c.82A>G, c.92C>T, c.259A>G, c.376A>G, and c.901C>T)) were observed in coding region and three in the 3′UTR. A 4 bp deletion (c.224 227del) was also identified in the coding region. Molecular segregation analysis uncovered that the combinatory mutations in the MC1R locus could cause eumelanin and pheomelanin synthesis in alpaca. Overall, our data refine what is known about the MC1R gene and provides additional information on its role in alpaca pigmentation.
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Tian X, Meng X, Wang L, Song Y, Zhang D, Ji Y, Li X, Dong C. Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and tissue distribution analysis of Slc7a11 gene in alpaca (Lama paco) skins associated with different coat colors. Gene 2015; 555:88-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2014] [Revised: 10/13/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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20
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Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic. Small Rumin Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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21
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Chandramohan B, Renieri C, La Manna V, La Terza A. The alpaca agouti gene: Genomic locus, transcripts and causative mutations of eumelanic and pheomelanic coat color. Gene 2013; 521:303-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2013.03.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2011] [Revised: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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22
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Jackling FC, Johnson WE, Appleton BR. The genetic inheritance of the blue-eyed white phenotype in alpacas (Vicugna pacos). J Hered 2012; 105:847-57. [PMID: 23144493 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/ess093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
White-spotting patterns in mammals can be caused by mutations in the gene KIT, whose protein is necessary for the normal migration and survival of melanocytes from the neural crest. The alpaca (Vicugna pacos) blue-eyed white (BEW) phenotype is characterized by 2 blue eyes and a solid white coat over the whole body. Breeders hypothesize that the BEW phenotype in alpacas is caused by the combination of the gene causing gray fleece and a white-spotting gene. We performed an association study using KIT flanking and intragenic markers with 40 unrelated alpacas, of which 17 were BEW. Two microsatellite alleles at KIT-related markers were significantly associated (P < 0.0001) with the BEW phenotype (bew1 and bew2). In a larger cohort of 171 related individuals, we identify an abundance of an allele (bew1) in gray animals and the occurrence of bew2 homozygotes that are solid white with pigmented eyes. Association tests accounting for population structure and familial relatedness are consistent with a proposed model where these alleles are in linkage disequilibrium with a mutation or mutations that contribute to the BEW phenotype and to individual differences in fleece color.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity C Jackling
- From the Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, NCI-Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Warren E Johnson
- From the Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, NCI-Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
| | - Belinda R Appleton
- From the Department of Genetics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne 3010, Australia Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, NCI-Frederick, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702
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23
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Tian X, Jiang J, Fan R, Wang H, Meng X, He X, He J, Li H, Geng J, Yu X, Song Y, Zhang D, Yao J, Smith GW, Dong C. Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and brown alpaca skin. BMC Genomics 2012; 13:555. [PMID: 23067000 PMCID: PMC3508611 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-13-555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED AB BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding 21-25 nt RNA molecules that play an important role in regulating gene expression. Little is known about the expression profiles and functions of miRNAs in skin and their role in pigmentation. Alpacas have more than 22 natural coat colors, more than any other fiber producing species. To better understand the role of miRNAs in control of coat color we performed a comprehensive analysis of miRNA expression profiles in skin of white versus brown alpacas. RESULTS Two small RNA libraries from white alpaca (WA) and brown alpaca (BA) skin were sequenced with the aid of Illumina sequencing technology. 272 and 267 conserved miRNAs were obtained from the WA and BA skin libraries, respectively. Of these conserved miRNAs, 35 and 13 were more abundant in WA and BA skin, respectively. The targets of these miRNAs were predicted and grouped based on Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analysis. Many predicted target genes for these miRNAs are involved in the melanogenesis pathway controlling pigmentation. In addition to the conserved miRNAs, we also obtained 22 potentially novel miRNAs from the WA and BA skin libraries. CONCLUSION This study represents the first comprehensive survey of miRNAs expressed in skin of animals of different coat colors by deep sequencing analysis. We discovered a collection of miRNAs that are differentially expressed in WA and BA skin. The results suggest important potential functions of miRNAs in coat color regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Tian
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, 030801, People's Republic of China
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Guridi M, Soret B, Alfonso L, Arana A. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Melanocortin 1 Receptor gene are linked with lightness of fibre colour in Peruvian Alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Anim Genet 2011; 42:679-82. [PMID: 22035014 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2052.2011.02205.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Melanocortin 1 receptor (alpha melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor) (MC1R) is a gene-controlling melanogenesis in mammals. However, it is not well characterized in alpacas and its association with colour is not known. The aim of this study was to look for polymorphisms in the MC1R gene in Peruvian Huacaya alpacas and to analyse the relationship between MC1R single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the variations in the instrumental measurement of colour of alpaca fibre. Sixty alpaca fibre samples from black, brown, cream and white animals (15 for each colour) were used to extract DNA from hair bulbs. Colour was measured with a spectrophotometer to obtain quantitative values (CieL*a*b*). Sixteen samples, four of each colour group, were sequenced. Eighteen SNP mutations, 10 not previously described, were found in these 16 sequences. Three of them were chosen (c.82A>G, c.865C>T, c.901C>T) to analyse genotypes by PCR-RFLP in the other 44 fibre samples and to determine the association of mutations with instrumental colour. These three polymorphisms showed association with fibre lightness (P < 0.05), although there was no correlation with colour groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Guridi
- Departamento de Producción Agraria, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Campus de Arrosadía, Pamplona, Spain
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Polymorphisms detected in the tyrosinase and matp (slc45a2) genes did not explain coat colour dilution in a sample of Alpaca (Vicugna pacos). Small Rumin Res 2011. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2010.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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