RESUMO
The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene was investigated as a candidate for plumage variations in Chinese painted quail, Coturnix chinensis. Four silent and two missense nucleotide polymorphisms were identified. The correspondent amino acid changes, p.Glu92Lys and p.Pro292Leu, were found in Blue Face and Red Breasted animals respectively. Blue Face is a melanic phenotype similar to the co-dominant Extended Brown of Japanese quail, and both share the p.Glu92Lys mutation. The association of p.Pro292Leu with the recessive Red Breasted was confirmed in 23 animals from an experimental F2 cross.
Assuntos
Proteínas Aviárias/genética , Coturnix/anatomia & histologia , Coturnix/genética , Mutação de Sentido Incorreto , Receptor Tipo 1 de Melanocortina/genética , Mutação Silenciosa , Animais , Coturnix/classificação , Plumas/anatomia & histologia , Feminino , Masculino , Pigmentação , Polimorfismo GenéticoRESUMO
We have characterized a deletion in the MC1R gene causing the loss of one amino acid (p.Phe256del), which is perfectly associated with melanism in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris). Co-segregation of the p.Phe256del with melanism was confirmed in 25 offspring born from a cross of two heterozygote birds; therefore we suggest that this mutation is responsible for the black phenotype. Interestingly, this is the first case of recessive melanism linked to MC1R.