title: A deletion in the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 4 (Hps4) gene appears to be responsible for albinism in channel catfish.
abstract: Albinism is caused by a series of genetic abnormalities leading to reduction of melanin production. Albinism is quite frequent in catfish, but the causative gene and the molecular basis were unknown. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) using the 250 K SNP array. The GWAS analysis allowed mapping of the albino phenotype in the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome 4 (Hps4) gene, which is known to be involved in melanosome biosynthesis. Sequencing analysis revealed that a 99-bp deletion was present in all analyzed albino catfish at the intron 2 and exon 3 junction. This deletion led to the skipping of the entire exon 3 which was confirmed by RT-PCR. Therefore, Hps4 was determined to be the candidate gene of the catfish albinism.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.|Division: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Yueru
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Geng
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Lisui
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elaswad
authors.affiliation: Division: Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Huggins
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA.
authors.forename: Rex
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dunham
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Genomics Unit, Fish Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology Laboratory, School of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL, 36849, USA. liuzhan@auburn.edu.
authors.forename: Zhanjiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D005838:Genotype; D022861:Hermanski-Pudlak Syndrome / Q000235:genetics*; D007059:Ictaluridae / Q000235:genetics*; D008543:Melanins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D010641:Phenotype; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017384:Sequence Deletion / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins; D008543:Melanins
keywords: Albinism; Catfish; GWAS; Hps4; Melanin; Mutation; Pigmentation