Domestic animals such as chickens and pigs show various coat colors, which are one of the important factors characterizing breeds and strictly controlled by genetic factors. So far, many genes associated with coat color have been identified (Reissmann & Ludwig, 2013; Steingrímsson, Copeland, & Jenkins, 2006). For example, mutations in tyrosinase gene and its related genes cause albinism, white coat, and skin with pink eyes, due to lack of melanin synthesis (Kamaraj & Purohit, 2014). Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is another representative responsible for coat color. The encoded protein is a G protein-coupled receptor with seven-pass transmembrane domain controlling melanogenesis. When MC1R is activated by its ligand, α-Melanocyte Stimulating Hormone, it stimulates melanocytes to make brown or black eumelanin in addition to yellow or red pheomelanin via cAMP signaling cascade. If MC1R is not activated, eumelanin synthesis is decreased and melanocytes mainly produce pheomelanin (García-Borrón, Abdel-Malek, & Jiménez-Cervantes, 2014; Wolf Horrell et al., 2016). Alterations of MC1R function and their effects on coat color have been analyzed in various animal species including horses, pigs, and chickens (Andersson, 2003). Lots of polymorphisms have also been identified in bovine MC1R gene on BTA18. Xi et al. (2012) and Zhang et al. (2014) have reported 23 polymorphisms, including 15 non-synonymous mutations and one frameshift mutation, in the coding region of MC1R gene of Asian cattle. Although their effects on the coat color phenotype are not fully
The Kumamoto sub-breed of Japanese Brown cattle has unique characteristics, such as great growth rate, and their contribution as future breeding materials is expected.To develop a DNA marker for their breeding, we investigated the effects of Leptin gene, controlling energy homeostasis, on carcass traits of the Kumamoto sub-breed.Sequence comparison identified five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): four linked synonymous mutations and one nonsynonymous mutation. Statistical analysis revealed that c.239C > T (p.A80V) had significant effects on the traits related with quality grade: beef marbling standard (p = 0.0132), meat brightness (p = 0.0383), and meat firmness (p = 0.0115). The C allele showed favorable effects; these scores of the C/C cattle were significantly higher than those of the C/T cattle. On the other hand, the effect of c.399T > C was observed on meat firmness (p = 0.0172) and beef fat standards (BFS) (p = 0.0129). The C/C cattle showed higher values of these traits than the T/T cattle. Our data suggested that these SNPs in Leptin gene could be used as a DNA marker for breeding of the Kumamoto sub-breed.
Wagyu, a variety of beef cattle of Japanese origin, includes four genetically distinct breeds: Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Shorthorn, and Japanese Polled (Gotoh et al. 2018). Japanese Brown cattle, raised mainly in the Kumamoto and Kochi prefectures, are the second most popular breed among the Wagyu breeds. The coat color patterns of the sub-breeds found in these two prefectures are apparently different, suggesting genetic isolation between
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