Characterisation of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene in alpaca and identification of possible markers associated with phenotypic variations in colour

摘要: The aim of this study was to determine if any correlation exists between melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) polymorphisms and skin fibre colour in alpacas. Primers capable amplifying the entire alpaca MC1R gene were designed from a comparative alignment Bos taurus Mus musculus sequences. complete 41 alpacas exhibiting range colours, which sourced farms across Australia, sequenced PCR products. Twenty-one single nucleotide identified within MC1R. Two these (A82G C901T) have potential reduce eumelanin production by disrupting activity No agreement observed alone genotype animals study. However, when assigned groups based on presence or absence their skin, only that had at least one allele with A82/C901 combination expressed eumelanin. We propose is wild-type dominant ‘E’ allele, while either G82/T901 G82/Y901 are homozygous for recessive ‘e’ therefore unable produce