title: Molecular cloning, mRNA expression and tissue distribution analysis of Slc7a11 gene in alpaca (Lama paco) skins associated with different coat colors.
abstract: Slc7a11 encoding solute carrier family 7 member 11 (amionic amino acid transporter light chain, xCT), has been identified to be a critical genetic regulator of pheomelanin synthesis in hair and melanocytes. To better understand the molecular characterization of Slc7a11 and the expression patterns in skin of white versus brown alpaca (lama paco), we cloned the full length coding sequence (CDS) of alpaca Slc7a11 gene and analyzed the expression patterns using Real Time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The full length CDS of 1512bp encodes a 503 amino acid polypeptide. Sequence analysis showed that alpaca xCT contains 12 transmembrane regions consistent with the highly conserved amino acid permease (AA_permease_2) domain similar to other vertebrates. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that alpaca xCT had the highest identity and shared the same branch with Camelus ferus. Real Time PCR and Western blotting suggested that xCT was expressed at significantly high levels in brown alpaca skin, and transcripts and protein possessed the same expression pattern in white and brown alpaca skins. Additionally, immunohistochemical analysis further demonstrated that xCT staining was robustly increased in the matrix and root sheath of brown alpaca skin compared with that of white. These results suggest that Slc7a11 functions in alpaca coat color regulation and offer essential information for further exploration on the role of Slc7a11 in melanogenesis.
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China.
authors.forename: Liangyan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: BGI-Shenzhen, Shenzhen 518083, PR China.
authors.forename: Yunfei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural Universtiy, Taigu 030801, PR China.
authors.forename: Danli
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural Universtiy, Taigu 030801, PR China.
authors.forename: Yuankai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuejun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology, Shanxi Agricultural Universtiy, Taigu 030801, PR China. Electronic address: changsheng_dong@126.com.
authors.forename: Changsheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D027182:Amino Acid Transport System y+ / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002161:Camelids, New World / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006197:Hair / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010858:Pigmentation; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D027182:Amino Acid Transport System y+; D008543:Melanins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C018362:pheomelanin; D012313:RNA
keywords: Alpaca; Coat colors; Skin; Slc7a11; xCT