Genetic variation within coat color genes of MC1R and ASIP in Chinese brownish red Tibetan pigs

Melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) are two major genes affecting coat color phenotypes in mammals, and inactivation mutations in the MC1R gene are responsible for red coat color in European pig breeds. Conversely, the gain‐of‐function ASIP mutations block MC1R signaling and lead to the production of red pheomelanin. Chinese Tibetan pigs have three types of coat color phenotypes, including brownish red, solid black and black with patches of brownish red and white. Herein, we investigated variations of the MC1R and ASIP genes in Tibetan pigs. The results showed that the brownish red Tibet pig had the dominant black MC1R allele (E^D1). No loss‐of‐function mutation in MC1R responsible for red coat color in European breeds was observed in this breed. No causal mutation for the red coat color phenotype was found in the coding sequence of the ASIP gene. A novel missense mutation c.157G > A was firstly identified in exon 2 of ASIP, which was further genotyped in 285 pigs from five Chinese breeds and three Western breeds having different coat color phenotypes. Nearly all pigs were GG homozygotes. In conclusion, no functional variant responsible for brownish red coloration was found in the coding region of MC1R and ASIP in Tibetan pigs.     

Characterization of MC1R and KIT Genotypes in Luchuan Pig Population

In order to assess the purity of Luchuan pig populations, four South Chinese local pig breeds including Putian Black pig, Yuedong Black pig, Dahuabai pig, Bama miniature pig and three foreign pig breeds including Duroc pig, Yorkshire pig and Landrace pig were studied as controls by sequencing of PCR products, MC1R and KIT genotypes in 56 Luchuan pigs were analyzed in this study. Sequencing results indicated that a splicing mutation (G>A) was presented in the first base in intron 17 of KIT gene in both Yorkshire pig and Landrace pig, in contrast, the wildtype GG of KIT gene was presented in Luchuan pig, four south Chinese local pig breeds and Duroc pig.Compared with Hainan wild boar, South Chinese local pig breeds had two missense mutations 95Val > Met and 102Leu > Pro in the coding region of MC1R gene;Compared with Yorkshire pig, Landrace pig and Duroc pig, South Chinese local pig breeds had 5 to 6 SNPs in MC1R gene 5'UTR, and in addtion, an A base deletion in MC1R gene 3'UTR. Furthermore, we found one litter of Luchuan pig with abnormal coat color.The results showed that the presentation of two distinct MC1R genotypes E^D1 and E^p in both litters and the sow,but only E^D1 in the boar. Considering E^p was derived from Pietrain pig, we preliminarily considered that the genome of the sow might be infiltrated with foreign pig breeds. In summary, we detected the genotypes of the coat color genes KIT and MC1R in eight pig breeds, confirmed the molecular differences of coat color between Chinese local pig breeds and foreign pig breeds, which could be useful for the further investigation of the molecular mechanism of pig coat color.     

陆川猪MC1R和KIT基因型鉴定

为了检测陆川猪种群的纯度,本研究以4个华南地方猪种（莆田黑猪、粤东黑猪、大花白猪、巴马香猪）和3个外来猪种（杜洛克猪、大白猪、长白猪）作为对照,利用PCR测序法对陆川猪群体56个样本的MC1R和KIT基因进行基因型鉴定。测序结果表明,大白猪和长白猪KIT基因内含子17的第1个碱基发生G>A剪接突变,而陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种,以及杜洛克猪中KIT基因型一样,均为野生型的GG基因型;MC1R基因编码区分析表明,以海南野猪MC1R基因型作为参考序列,陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种在MC1R基因编码区存在95Val > Met和102Leu > Pro两个错义突变;MC1R基因非编码区分析表明,与大白猪、长白猪和杜洛克猪相比,陆川猪和4个华南地方猪种MC1R基因的5'UTR分别存在5~6个SNPs,3'UTR存在1个A碱基的缺失。另外,试验对一窝毛色异常的陆川猪仔猪及其亲本的KIT和MC1R基因进行测序分析,结果表明,仔猪及其亲本的KIT基因型均为GG野生型,仔猪和母本的MC1R基因均存在E^D1和E^p两种不同的基因型,父本的MC1R基因型为E^D1,因E^p对应于皮特兰猪的斑块表型,所以初步判定母本渗入了外来猪种的血统。本研究通过检测陆川猪等8个猪种的毛色相关基因KIT和MC1R基因的基因型,证实了中外猪种间在毛色遗传上的分子差异,为今后深入研究猪毛色遗传的分子调控机理提供参考。     

Genetic structure of pig breeds from Korea and China using microsatellite loci analysis

To understand molecular genetic characteristics of Korean pigs, the genetic relationships of nine pig breeds including two Korean pigs (Korean native pig and Korean wild pig), three Chinese pigs (Min pig, Xiang pig, and Wuzhishan pig), and four European breeds (Berkshire, Duroc, Landrace, and Yorkshire) were characterized from a 16-microsatellite loci analysis. The mean heterozygosity within breeds ranged from 0.494 to 0.703. Across multiple loci, significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in most pig breeds, except for two Chinese pigs (Min pig and Wuzhishan pig). This deviation was in the direction of heterozygote deficit. Across population loci, 36 of 144 significantly deviated (P < 0.05) from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The mean FST, a measure of genetic divergence among subpopulations, of all loci indicated that 26.1% of total variation could be attributed to the breed difference. Relationship trees based on the Nei's DA genetic distance and scatter diagram from principal component analysis consistently displayed pronounced genetic differentiation among the Korean wild pig, Xiang pig, and Wuzhishan pig. Individual assignment test using a Bayesian method showed 100% success in assigning Korean and Chinese individual pigs into their correct breeds of origin and 100% exclusion success from all alternative reference populations at P < 0.001. These findings indicate that the Korean native pig has been experiencing progressive interbreeding with Western pig breeds after originating from a North China pig breed with a black coat color. Considering the close genetic relationship of Korean pigs to the Western breeds such as Berkshire and Landrace, our findings can be used as valuable genetic information for the preservation and further genetic improvement of the Korean native pig.     

贵州地方猪品种毛色与KIT基因拷贝数之间的关联分析

为了研究KIT基因的拷贝数与贵州地方猪毛色之间的关系,本试验以黔北黑猪、柯乐猪、糯谷猪、香猪4个地方品种为试验材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR方法检测基因组中KIT基因的拷贝数变异,并与荣昌猪和大白猪2个白毛色猪品种相比较.结果显示,4个贵州地方猪种中,全黑/全棕毛色个体的KIT基因拷贝数以缺失为主,黑色带白斑个体的KIT基因拷贝数全部缺失,而棕色带白个体的KIT基因拷贝数增加、正常各半.大白猪的KIT基因拷贝数显著增加,荣昌猪KIT基因拷贝数以正常类型为主.表明大白猪的白毛色由KIT基因拷贝数增加决定,但荣昌猪的白毛色可能与KIT基因的拷贝数变异之间没有直接的联系;4个贵州地方品猪的全黑/全棕色毛色与KIT基因拷贝数的缺失有关,但柯乐猪和香猪中带白斑个体的KIT基因拷贝数并未增加,提示贵州地方猪品种的白斑毛色的形成机制有一定的特殊性.     

MC1R c.310G>‐ and c.871G > A determine the coat color of Kumamoto sub‐breed of Japanese Brown cattle

Coat color is one of the important factors characterizing breeds for domestic animals. Melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a representative responsible gene for this phenotype. Two single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in bovine MC1R gene, c.296T > C and c.310G>‐, have been well characterized, but these SNPs are not enough to explain cattle coat color. As far as we know, MC1R genotypes of Kumamoto sub‐breed of Japanese Brown cattle have not been analyzed. In the current study, genotyping for c.296T > C and c.310G>‐ was performed to elucidate the role of MC1R in determining the coat color of this sub‐breed. As a result, most animals were e/e genotype, suggesting the coat color of this sub‐breed is derived from the e allele of MC1R gene. However, we found six animals with E/e genotype, which coat color would be black theoretically. Subsequently, sequence comparison was performed with these animals to identify other polymorphisms affecting coat color, elucidating that these animals possessed the A allele of c.871G > A commonly. c.871G > A was a non‐synonymous mutation in the seventh transmembrane domain, suggesting alteration of the function and/or the structure of MC1R protein. Our data indicated that the A allele of c.871G > A might be a loss‐of‐function mutation.     

新民猪RYR1和MC4R基因的多态性检测分析

为了调查兰尼定1型受体(RYR1)基因和黑素皮质素受体4(MC4R)基因[其目前公认的数量性状基因座(QTN)]在新组建的民猪群体内的分布情况,试验采用PCR-RFLP的方法,对黑龙江省农业科学院畜牧研究所收集整理的23头民猪的RYR1基因和MC4R基因进行检测,并与其他已报道的猪种进行比较。结果表明:RYR1基因的N等位基因频率为86.96%,n等位基因频率为13.04%;MC4R的A等位基因频率为76.19%,G等位基因频率为23.81%,与其他猪种相比,n等位基因频率偏高。     

基于重测序的民猪与大白猪SLAⅠ类基因多态性及抗病潜能差异分析

不同中外猪种对疾病的抵抗能力有一定差异，原因之一是不同猪种猪白细胞抗原（swine leukocyte antigen，SLA）分子的多样性不同。本研究旨在探究中外猪种的SLA基因差异，为阐明地方猪的抗病机理提供重要参考。本研究首先对健康的8头民猪以及4头大白猪进行基因组重测序，并对所获得的SNP进一步质控用于后续分析。使用VCFtools、GEVALT软件分析SLAⅠ类基因的SNP以及单倍型，并将SNP利用ENSEMBL中的VEP工具进行注释，在全局层面阐述两个猪种的SLAⅠ类基因多样性。通过Mega软件比对两猪种的经典SLAⅠ类基因外显子2和3的核苷酸及编码氨基酸序列，利用Expasy服务器上的ProtParam工具和Protscale程序分析蛋白质特性，并利用DnaSP软件计算核苷酸多样性，分析两个猪种经典SLAⅠ类基因抗原递呈能力的差异。结果表明，民猪的SLAⅠ类基因具有更多的SNPs和长度较短的单倍型块，并且错义突变的碱基数量较多。在经典SLAⅠ类基因的外显子2和3可分别鉴定出2个等位基因，民猪在等位基因上的核苷酸多样性要明显高于大白猪，并且民猪具有更多的碱基突变以及位于抗原结合位点上的氨基酸突变。两个猪种的经典SLAⅠ类基因氨基酸表现为亲水性，民猪的亲水性要强于大白猪。综上所述，SLAⅠ类基因在民猪上有更强的多态性。民猪经典SLAⅠ类基因的碱基突变数量和抗原结合位点上氨基酸突变的数量都要多于大白猪。本研究所检测到的民猪在经典SLAⅠ类基因ARSs上的变异可为猪抗病育种标记的筛选提供参考。     

猪毛色基因黑色素受体1的基因型分析

为检测黑色素受体1(melanocortin receptor 1,MC1R)基因型在不同毛色猪种中的分布,研究该基因在猪毛色决定中的地位和作用,本试验使用PCR-SSCP和PCR-RFLP方法对军牧1号白猪、杜洛克猪、西藏小型猪和大白猪的MC1R基因型进行了检测。结果显示,长白猪、大白猪存在nt894insCC和G1197A突变;杜洛克猪存在G668C、C1318T和G1554A突变;西藏小型猪存在C1318T和G1554A突变,而在nt894insCC位点则表现出其他基因型。通过对4个猪种的MC1R基因型的检测,为研究MC1R基因对毛色的作用机理奠定了基础。     

黑色素皮质激素受体1基因248位点多态性与中国马品种毛色的相关性分析

在欧洲马品种中,黑色素皮质激素受体1(melanocortin receptor 1,MC1R)基因第248位碱基有C/T多态性,纯合的T248位点决定欧洲马的栗毛色。针对MC1R基因的248位点设计了2对特异性引物,采用等位基因特异性PCR技术,研究3个中国马品种MC1R基因型与栗色毛之间的关系。经扩增获得两种DNA片段,克隆测序后证明,扩增片段确为MC1R基因,两种DNA片段序列在基因的248位点的确呈现C/T多态性,但检测126份贵州矮马、西南马和新疆伊犁马血液样本,全部为杂合基因型(Ee),其中包括栗毛、黑毛、骝毛3种单毛色及3种复毛色。这些研究结果提示,MC1R基因中248位点的多态性与国内3个马品种的栗色毛之间没有直接的相关性。     

深县猪mtDNA CytB基因的遗传多样性与母系起源研究

为探讨深县猪群体内的遗传多样性及母系起源分化,采用PCR直接测序法测定了40头深县猪的mtDNA CytB基因长1 140 bp片段的全序列,并结合GenBank已公布的15个猪种mtDNA CytB基因全序列,采用邻接法构建深县猪、部分其他地方猪种和引进猪种的系统发育树。结果显示,在1 140 bp长的序列中A、T、G、C的含量分别为25.93%、31.72%、28.90%及13.45%,其中A+T的含量(57.65%)高于G+C的含量(42.35%);共发现2个变异位点,无插入和缺失突变,全部为转换位点,其中简约信息位点2个,未发现单一信息位点。40条序列共定义了3种单倍型,单倍型多样性(HD)为0.312,核苷酸多样性(Pi)为0.00026,平均核苷酸差异数(K)为0.327。在深县猪mtDNA CytB基因全序列NJ进化树中,三种单倍型聚为同一分支,母系来源单一,与莱芜猪、大蒲莲猪等山东品种遗传距离较近。结果表明,深县猪群体内遗传多样性比较贫乏,与山东地区的华北型黑猪种群有更近的亲缘关系。     

Coat colour genes in diversity studies

In this paper we describe the use of polymorphic genes affecting coat colour as a tool in diversity studies of domestic animals. Although phenotypic data has been the main criteria for establishing different breeds, calculation of genetic distances between breeds is normally performed using noncoding microsatellite markers. As anticipated, MC1‐R (melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor) allele frequencies vary greatly between cattle breeds expressing different coat colours. In multicoloured breeds, like Icelandic cattle, a high frequency of the E⁺ allele appears to be essential for colour variation. Whereas black breeds have a high frequency of the dominant acting allele E^D, entirely red breeds have no E^D. Animals being homozygous for the defective allele e occurred frequently in some cattle breeds, indicating that the MC1‐R does not have crucial impact on animal physiology other than coat colour. The E⁺ and e alleles were observed in the closely related river buffalo as well. None of the breeds included in this study express the roan phenotype. Consequently, they were monomorphic at the MGF locus. As for the MC1‐R locus, a correlation to colour pattern was observed for two c‐kit alleles as well, confirming that selection of specific phenotypes strongly affect the allelic variation of underlying loci. Information on genes affecting the phenotype is therefore well suited for describing different breeds of livestock and, consequently, a practical tool in breed conservation.     

新民猪和皮民猪ESR基因的多态性检测分析

为了研究新民猪和皮民猪雌激素受体(ESR)基因的多态性,试验采用PCR-RFLP方法,对黑龙江省农业科学院畜牧研究所收集整理的27头新民猪和50头皮民猪F1代的ESR基因进行检测,并与其他已报道的猪种进行比较。结果表明:新民猪ESR基因的A等位基因频率为0.593,B等位基因频率为0.407;皮民猪ESR基因的A等位基因频率为0.720,B等位基因频率为0.280。新民猪与皮民猪的等位基因频率与引进猪种相似,即A等位基因频率略高于B等位基因频率;然而我国大部分地方猪种的B等位基因频率高于A等位基因频率,其中B为优势等位基因。     

新民猪和皮民猪CAST基因的多态性检测分析

为了研究新民猪和皮民猪钙蛋白酶抑制蛋白(CAST)基因的多态性,试验采用PCR-RFLP法对27头新民猪和50头皮民猪F1代CAST基因的2个突变位点进行检测,并与已报道的猪种进行比较。结果表明:新民猪Arg249Lys突变位点的A等位基因频率为66.67%,B等位基因频率为33.33%;Ser638Arg突变位点的A等位基因频率为18.00%,B等位基因频率为82.00%。皮民猪Arg249Lys突变位点的A等位基因频率为94.00%,B等位基因频率为6.00%;Ser638Arg突变位点的A等位基因频率为28.00%,B等位基因频率为72.00%。与其他猪种相比,新民猪和皮民猪的Arg249Lys突变位点的A等位基因频率偏高,Ser638Arg突变位点的A等位基因频率偏低,从而引起有利单倍型249Lys-638Arg频率较低。     

藏猪黑素皮质激素受体-4基因TaqI多态性分析

藏猪是我国青藏高原特有的小型原始地方猪种,文中采用PCR-RFLP技术分析了藏猪黑素皮质激素受体-4(MC4R)基因TaqI酶切位点多态性。结果表明:藏猪MC4R基因TaqI酶切位点优势基因型为11,基因型频率达93.56%,与国内梅山猪、二花脸猪、民猪和金华猪等较接近,与汉普夏、大白、杜洛克等外种猪差别较大。     

Genetic diversity analyses of 10 indigenous Chinese pig populations based on 20 microsatellites

To study the genetic diversity of Chinese indigenous pig breeds, a total of 403 pigs from 10 local populations and 1 exotic Duroc breed were genotyped for 20 microsatellite markers. Heterozygosity and Wright's F-statistics (F(IS), F(ST), and F(IT)) were calculated to determine the genetic variation in those populations. The observed heterozygosities were in the range of 0.31 (Duroc) to 0.66 (Shengxian). The F(IS) value was in a range of -0.07 to 0.48. The mean F(ST) showed that approximately 78% of the genetic variation was within-population and 22% was across the populations. The 10 Chinese local breeds were classified into two major groups according to the phylogenetic tree, which was based on standard genetic distance. Four pig populations, Jianli, Ganxi Two Ends Black, Shaziling, and Dongshan were grouped into one branch. Before the study, these four populations were all classified as Central China Two Ends Black according to coat color, shape of the head, and shape of the ear. The Jinhua pig, which also has the two-ends-black coat color, was also grouped to the same branch but was not traditionally classified into this type. The five populations were located in various provinces in central China. The other five populations, Nanyang Black, Hainan Spotted, Huainan Black, Jiaxing Black, and Shengxian Spotted (black body, white feet), were grouped into another branch. The two groups of pig breeds had the same F(ST) value (0.14) when calculated separately. This value was similar to that of Iberian pigs (0.13) but smaller than that of the European pigs (0.27) as reported by other researchers. Our study showed that large genetic differentiation exists in Chinese pig breeds. The grouping of the five two-ends-black populations into one branch of the phylogenetic tree may indicate that the number of conservation farms can be decreased for this type of pig.     

猪PLSCR4基因外显子区PCR-RFLP遗传多态性分析

本研究利用PCR-RFLP技术对我国6个地方猪种、中国野猪以及杜洛克、约克夏和长白3个国外猪品种,共307头猪的磷脂爬行酶基因(PLSCRs)外显子区的遗传变异进行了研究。结果表明:PLSCR4第7外显子处存在T68C的同义突变,第8外显子处存在G4A的错义突变;在T68C突变位点处,杜洛克、约克夏、长白猪、二花脸、五指山和民猪6个猪群优势等位基因为T,荣昌和野猪群体中优势等位基因为C;在G4A突变位点处,杜洛克、约克夏、长白猪、二花脸、五指山和民猪群体中优势等位基因为G,藏猪、荣昌、金华及野猪群体中优势等位基因A。     

浙江6个地方猪种的mtDNA控制区多态性分析

本研究对淳安花猪等6个浙江地方猪种的116条mtDNA序列进行了多态性分析,参照猪群为长白猪和皖南花猪。结果显示,浙江地方猪种581 bp mtDNA控制区序列中共存在14个变异位点,群体的核苷酸多样度Pi值为0.00403±0.00036;单倍型多样度Hd值为0.835±0.018。地方猪的单倍型从Hap_5至Hap_19共15种,而长白猪为Hap_1至Hap_4。淳安花猪和皖南花猪的单倍型频率均以Hap_8为主(0.680和0.833);嘉兴黑猪以Hap_5(0.625)为主;嵊县花猪和碧湖猪均以Hap_6为主(0.500和0.375);岔路黑猪以Hap_5、Hap_8居多(0.429和0.429);金华猪有11种单倍型,频率最高的是Hap_5(0.241)。NJ系统发生树中,浙江地方猪种大致可分为5支(编号A~E),其中,淳安花猪主要出现在E支,个体数占淳安花猪样本数的68.0%(17/25);C支全为金华猪,个体数占金华猪样本数的29.3%(17/58);D支金华猪个体数占金华猪样本数的24.1%(14/58)。本研究结果表明,浙江地方猪种的mtDNA多态性较为丰富,且与长白猪在基因序列上存在明显差别。地方猪种的单倍型组成和频率与其地理分布及品种的形成特点有密切关系。     

Altered expression of melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) in a yellow-coloured wild raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Background – The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene plays a key role in determining coat colour in mammals by controlling the proportion of eumelanin and pheomelanin granules. Wild raccoon dogs have a mixed coat colour, with black to brown and grey hairs. Hypothesis/Objectives – The study was performed to identify the cause of the variant yellow coat colour in a wild raccoon dog. Animals – A wild raccoon dog that showed coat colour change to yellow and four wild‐type raccoon dogs that showed normal coat colour were included. Methods – To identify the cause of the variant yellow coat colour, we examined the sequence of the MC1R gene and its expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Results – The coding region of the MC1R gene of this raccoon dog comprised 954 bp, the same as for wild‐type raccoon dogs and domestic dogs. By comparing the gene with that in the wild‐type raccoon dog, a 2 bp deletion was detected in the 5′‐untranslated region, positioned 152 bp upstream of the start codon. However, there was no significant difference in the mRNA expression level. The yellow raccoon dog revealed a significantly decreased MC1R protein level compared with the wild‐type raccoon dogs, indicating an increase in pheomelanin synthesis. Conclusions and clinical importance – These results suggest that the variant coat colour in the yellow raccoon dog was associated with decreased MC1R function.