Exclusion of candidate genes for coat colour phenotypes of the American mink (Neovison vison)

Abstract

In a previous project, we screened the American mink Bacterial Artificial Chromosome library, CHORI-231, for genes potentially involved in various coat colour phenotypes in the American mink. Subsequently, we 454 sequenced the inserts containing these genes and developed microsatellite markers for each of these genes. Here, we describe a lack of association between three different 'roan-type' phenotypes represented by Cross, Stardust and Cinnamon in American mink and six different genes that we considered to be potentially linked to these phenotypes. Thus, c-KIT (HUGO-approved symbol KIT), ATOH-1 (HUGO-approved symbol ATOH1) and POMC were excluded as potential candidates for these three phenotypes. In addition, MITF and SLC24A5 were excluded for Cross and Cinnamon, and KITL (HUGO-approved symbol KITLG) for Cross and Stardust. Although most of these genes have been implicated as the cause of similar phenotypes in other mammals, including horses, pigs, cows, dogs, cats, mice and humans, they do not appear to be responsible for comparable phenotypes found in American mink.

Identifying QTL and genetic correlations between fur quality traits in mink (Neovison vison)

“…) in mink, most genomic work so far has focused on identifying coat color genes (Anistoroaei & Christensen ; Anistoroaei et al . , ,b; Benkel et al . ).…”

Interplay between aggression, brain monoamines and fur color mutation in the American mink

“…There are numerous color mutations in the American minks (Anistoroaei et al ) and, therefore, this species is a suitable experimental model for the investigation of interplay between the coat color aberrations and behavior. The present study provides the first experimental evidence of the interplay between color mutation, reaction towards human and brain monoamines.…”