The role of melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) receptor in bovine coat color determination

✍ Scribed by H. Klungland; D. I. Vage; L. Gomez-Raya; S. Adalsteinsson; S. Lien

• Book ID: 104735767
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag
• Year: 1995
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 510 KB
• Volume: 6
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0938-8990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00352371

✦ Synopsis

The melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) receptor has a major function in the regulation of black (eumelanin) versus red (phaeomelanin) pigment synthesis within melanocytes. We report three alleles of the MSH-receptor gene found in cattle. A point mutation in the dominant allele E ~ gives black coat color, whereas a frameshift mutation, producing a prematurely terminated receptor, in homozygous e/e animals, produces red coat color. The wild-type allele E + produces a variety of colors, reflecting the possibilities for regulating the normal receptor. Microsatellite analysis, RFLP studies, and coat color information were used to localize the MSH-receptor to bovine Chromosome (Chr) 18. the E + allele, which allows phenotypical expression of A locus alleles. In E + animals, the A-locus allele A + is suggested to produce brown coat color, whereas homozygous a alleles produces recessive black coat color. However, no molecular studies have previously been carried out on these loci in cattle.

In this study, we describe the molecular genetics responsible for the coat colors produced by different alleles at the E-locus in cattle. In addition, the chromosomal location of this locus was determined by the use of microsatellite analysis, RFLP studies, and coat color information.