Journal of Integrative Agriculture ›› 2015, Vol. 14 ›› Issue (7): 1390-1397.DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(14)60928-X

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Molecular characterization of two candidate genes associated with coat color in Tibetan sheep (Ovis arise)

 HAN Ji-long, YANG Min, GUO Ting-ting, YUE Yao-jing, LIU Jian-bin, NIU Chun-e, WANG Chao-feng, YANG Bo-hui   

  1. 1、Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050,P.R.China
    2、Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
    3、College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
  • 收稿日期:2014-05-30 出版日期:2015-07-03 发布日期:2015-07-06
  • 通讯作者: YANG Bo-hui, Tel: +86-931-2115272,E-mail: yangbh2004@163.com
  • 作者简介:HAN Ji-long, E-mail: hanjilong10000@126.com;
  • 基金资助:

    This work was sponsored by the Earmarked Fund for Modern China Wool & Cashmere Technology Research System, China (CARS-40-03).

Molecular characterization of two candidate genes associated with coat color in Tibetan sheep (Ovis arise)

 HAN Ji-long, YANG Min, GUO Ting-ting, YUE Yao-jing, LIU Jian-bin, NIU Chun-e, WANG Chao-feng, YANG Bo-hui   

  1. 1、Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou 730050,P.R.China
    2、Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
    3、College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
  • Received:2014-05-30 Online:2015-07-03 Published:2015-07-06
  • Contact: YANG Bo-hui, Tel: +86-931-2115272,E-mail: yangbh2004@163.com
  • About author:HAN Ji-long, E-mail: hanjilong10000@126.com;
  • Supported by:

    This work was sponsored by the Earmarked Fund for Modern China Wool & Cashmere Technology Research System, China (CARS-40-03).

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摘要： Coat color is a key economic trait in sheep. Some candidate genes associated with animal’s coat color were found. Particularly, v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) play a key role in the modulation of hair pigmentation in mammals. This study investigated those two candidate genes’ mutations and expressions associated with wool color in Tibetan sheep. First, the gene polymorphisms of those two genes were analyzed, and then, relative mRNA expression levels of those two genes in skin tissue with different coat colors were compared. Thirdly, KIT and MITF protein expression levels were detected through Western blot and immunehistochemical. Allele C was predominant allele in the white coat color Tibetan sheep population of the MITF coding region g. 1548 C/T loci. The relative MITF mRNA expression in black coat skin tissue was significantly higher than white (P<0.01). However, no significant differences were detected in the KIT gene’s mRNA expression of these two different coat color skin tissues (P>0.05), while the level of KIT protein expression in skin tissues of white and black coats was also roughly equivalent. Our study observed that, the level of MITF protein expression in black coat skin tissue was significantly higher than that in white coat skin tissue, and positive staining for MITF protein expression was detected mainly in the epidermis and the dermal papilla, bulb, and outer root sheath of hair follicles. We conclude that the black coat of Tibetan sheep is related to high MITF expression in the hair follicles, and MITF may be important for coat color formation of Tibetan sheep.

关键词: Tibetan sheep , KIT , MITF , gene polymorphism , gene expression , coat color

Abstract: Coat color is a key economic trait in sheep. Some candidate genes associated with animal’s coat color were found. Particularly, v-kit Hardy-Zuckerman 4 feline sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KIT) and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) play a key role in the modulation of hair pigmentation in mammals. This study investigated those two candidate genes’ mutations and expressions associated with wool color in Tibetan sheep. First, the gene polymorphisms of those two genes were analyzed, and then, relative mRNA expression levels of those two genes in skin tissue with different coat colors were compared. Thirdly, KIT and MITF protein expression levels were detected through Western blot and immunehistochemical. Allele C was predominant allele in the white coat color Tibetan sheep population of the MITF coding region g. 1548 C/T loci. The relative MITF mRNA expression in black coat skin tissue was significantly higher than white (P<0.01). However, no significant differences were detected in the KIT gene’s mRNA expression of these two different coat color skin tissues (P>0.05), while the level of KIT protein expression in skin tissues of white and black coats was also roughly equivalent. Our study observed that, the level of MITF protein expression in black coat skin tissue was significantly higher than that in white coat skin tissue, and positive staining for MITF protein expression was detected mainly in the epidermis and the dermal papilla, bulb, and outer root sheath of hair follicles. We conclude that the black coat of Tibetan sheep is related to high MITF expression in the hair follicles, and MITF may be important for coat color formation of Tibetan sheep.

Key words: Tibetan sheep , KIT , MITF , gene polymorphism , gene expression , coat color