title: Expression and Distribution of the Guanine Nucleotide-binding Protein Subunit Alpha-s in Mice Skin Tissues and Its Association with White and Black Coat Colors.
abstract: Guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit alpha-s (Gnαs) is a small subunit of the G protein-couple signaling pathway, which is involved in the formation of coat color. The expression level and distribution of Gnαs were detected by quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), western blot, and immunohistochemistry to investigate the underlying mechanisms of coat color in white and black skin tissues of mice. qPCR and western blot results suggested that Gnαs was expressed at significantly higher levels in black mice compared with that of white mice, and transcripts and protein possessed the same expression in both colors. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated Gnαs staining in the root sheath and dermal papilla in hair follicle of mice skins. The results indicated that the Gnαs gene was expressed in both white and black skin tissues, and the expression level of Gnαs in the two types of color was different. Therefore, Gnαs may be involved in the coat color formation in mice.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Zhihong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Zhun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Shanshan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Shaanxi Animal Health Inspection, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710000, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030800, China.
authors.forename: Quanhai
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pang
keywords: Coat Color; Guanine Nucleotide-binding Protein Subunit Alpha-s; Hair Follicle; Melanocyte; Mice; Pigmentation; Skin Tissue