{"title":"A 3-bp deletion in the SLC45A2 gene is associated with loss of fleece pigmentation in black-fleeced Suffolk sheep.","authors":"R G Tearle, T Chen, F D Brien","doi":"10.1111/age.13495","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Sheep have naturally pigmented wool which interferes with dyeing. Selection has been carried out over many years to remove pigment, with substantial success, but most wool still contains some pigment. As an alternative to selection, it has been proposed to take a naturally occurring mutation found in black Suffolk sheep, that blocks wool pigmentation, and introgress it into other breeds. However, the nature of the mutation has not been identified, prompting us to characterise it. The Suffolk white-fleece phenotype is associated with a novel 3-bp deletion in the gene SLC45A2, which encodes a membrane bound transporter that mediates melanin synthesis. The deletion results in the removal of one amino acid from the protein. The assignment of this deletion as the likely causative mutation is supported by it: being homozygous in the genome of nine animals with a white fleece and not homozygous in the genomes of eight animals with a black fleece; having a high level of conservation of the encoded amino acid sequence in the region surrounding the deleted amino acid across Mammalia; and the same deletion (but in a compound heterozygous state) being found in human SLC45A2 in a person with albinism.</p>","PeriodicalId":7905,"journal":{"name":"Animal genetics","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.8000,"publicationDate":"2024-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Animal genetics","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1111/age.13495","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Sheep have naturally pigmented wool which interferes with dyeing. Selection has been carried out over many years to remove pigment, with substantial success, but most wool still contains some pigment. As an alternative to selection, it has been proposed to take a naturally occurring mutation found in black Suffolk sheep, that blocks wool pigmentation, and introgress it into other breeds. However, the nature of the mutation has not been identified, prompting us to characterise it. The Suffolk white-fleece phenotype is associated with a novel 3-bp deletion in the gene SLC45A2, which encodes a membrane bound transporter that mediates melanin synthesis. The deletion results in the removal of one amino acid from the protein. The assignment of this deletion as the likely causative mutation is supported by it: being homozygous in the genome of nine animals with a white fleece and not homozygous in the genomes of eight animals with a black fleece; having a high level of conservation of the encoded amino acid sequence in the region surrounding the deleted amino acid across Mammalia; and the same deletion (but in a compound heterozygous state) being found in human SLC45A2 in a person with albinism.
期刊介绍:
Animal Genetics reports frontline research on immunogenetics, molecular genetics and functional genomics of economically important and domesticated animals. Publications include the study of variability at gene and protein levels, mapping of genes, traits and QTLs, associations between genes and traits, genetic diversity, and characterization of gene or protein expression and control related to phenotypic or genetic variation.
The journal publishes full-length articles, short communications and brief notes, as well as commissioned and submitted mini-reviews on issues of interest to Animal Genetics readers.