Characterization of the rabbit agouti signaling protein (ASIP) gene: transcripts and phylogenetic analyses and identification of the causative mutation of the nonagouti black coat colour.
The agouti locus encodes the agouti signalling protein (ASIP) which is involved in determining the switch from eumelanin to pheomelanin synthesis in melanocytes. In the domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) early studies indicated three alleles at this locus: A, light-bellied agouti (wild type); a(t), black and tan; a, black nonagouti. We characterized the rabbit ASIP gene and identified the causative mutation (an insertion in exon 2) of the black nonagouti allele whose frequency was evaluated in 31 breeds. Phylogenetic analysis of ASIP sequences from Oryctolagus and 9 other species of the family Leporidae placed Oryctolagus as sister species to Pentalagus and Bunolagus. Transcription analysis in wild type agouti rabbits revealed the presence of two major transcripts with different 5'-untranslated regions having ventral or dorsal skin specific expression. ASIP gene transcripts were also detected in all examined rabbit tissues distinguishing the rabbit expression pattern from what was observed in wild type mice.
Fontanesi
Luca
L
DIPROVAL, Sezione di Allevamenti Zootecnici, University of Bologna, Via F.lli Rosselli 107, 42100 Reggio Emilia, Italy. luca.fontanesi@unibo.it <luca.fontanesi@unibo.it>
Forestier
Lionel
L
Allain
Daniel
D
Scotti
Emilio
E
Beretti
Francesca
F
Deretz-Picoulet
Séverine
S
Pecchioli
Elena
E
Vernesi
Cristiano
C
Robinson
Terence J
TJ
Malaney
Jason L
JL
Russo
Vincenzo
V
Oulmouden
Ahmad
A
D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005838:Genotype; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism*; D008543:Melanins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011817:Rabbits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D054366:Agouti Signaling Protein; D008543:Melanins; C041877:eumelanin