Characterization of the effect of Melanocortin 1 Receptor, a member of the hair color genetic locus, in alpaca (Lama pacos) fleece color differentiation

Powell, Aaron; Moss, Michael J.; Tree, L. T.; Roeder, Beverly L.; Carleton, Carla L.; Campbell, Emily M.; Kooyman, David L.

doi:10.1016/j.smallrumres.2008.07.025

Cited by 21 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…Studies of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) genes in alpacas of different coat colors revealed several polymorphisms that may be predictive of coat color [14-18]. Powell et al reported that the M87V and S126G variants of MC1R may affect coat color with brown coat color animals showing homozygosity for the methionine and serine alleles [16]. Tyrosinase related protein 1 (TYRP1) is encoded by the brown locus and is involved in eumelanin synthesis [19].…”

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confidence: 99%

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and brown alpaca skin

et al. 2012

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BackgroundMicroRNAs (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.ResultsTwo 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.ConclusionThis 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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confidence: 99%

Identification and characterization of microRNAs in white and brown alpaca skin

et al. 2012

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“…Each animal of a colour group was chosen from a different herd. Eight of these 18 SNPs (c.82A>G, c.126T>C, c.258A>G, c.354T>C, c.376A>G, c.618G>A, c.901C>T and c.933G>A), all in the CDS, had been described previously (Powell et al 2008;Feeley & Munyard 2009), while 10 polymorphisms had never been described before. Five measurements were taken for each sample to obtain the average.…”

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confidence: 97%

“…Polymorphisms c.82A>G (p.Thr28Ala) and c.901C>T (p.Arg301Cys) were hypothesized to be related to fibre colour by Powell et al (2008) and Feeley & Munyard (2009), while polymorphism c.865C>T was chosen in this study because it was found only in brown coloured animals and it produces an amino acid polar to nonpolar change in the protein. Polymorphisms c.82A>G (p.Thr28Ala) and c.901C>T (p.Arg301Cys) were hypothesized to be related to fibre colour by Powell et al (2008) and Feeley & Munyard (2009), while polymorphism c.865C>T was chosen in this study because it was found only in brown coloured animals and it produces an amino acid polar to nonpolar change in the protein.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…In alpacas, work aimed at associating the MC1R gene with Mendelian inheritance of colour has not been able to establish associations between variations in a single SNP and fibre colour (Powell et al 2008;Feeley & Munyard 2009), likely due to the genetic complexity of this character. Assuming that colour is a complex character, the MC1R contribution to the fibre coloration has been analysed, estimating the independent effects of three segregating SNPs on the phenotypic lightness value.…”

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confidence: 99%

“…Melanocortin 1 receptor has been studied in many species, and several loss of function or receptor-activating polymorphisms have been described (García-Borrón et al 2005). Recent studies have described several mutations found in MC1R in alpaca (Powell et al 2008;Feeley & Munyard 2009), although none were completely correlated with fibre colour according to colour charts. In a previous study of characterization of US alpaca fibre, Lupton et al (2006) performed instrumental measurements of colour and concluded that a great deal of variability exists within the different colour groups.…”

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Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the Melanocortin 1 Receptor gene are linked with lightness of fibre colour in Peruvian Alpaca (Vicugna pacos)

et al. 2011

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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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