Effects of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene polymorphisms on plumage color in mule ducks

Yi-Chen Tu,Hsiu-Chou Liu,Liang-Yuan Wei,Ming-Cheng Chen,Yu-Hsiang Yu,Hsien-Hsiung Lee,Yi-Ying Chang

doi:10.1590/rbz4820180180

Abstract

ABSTRACT The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene on plumage coloration in mule ducks. PCR-high-resolution melting analysis (PCR-HRM) and DNA sequencing were used to identify the SNP variability of the MC1R gene in white common ducks. Three non-synonymous SNP (MC1R gene exon 1, c.52G>A, c.376G>A, and c.409G>A) were identified in white Tsaiya ducks. Mating test (white Tsaiya ducks × white Muscovy drakes) in combination with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to investigate the effect of non-synonymous SNP of different maternal lines on plumage coloration in mule ducks. Genotyping results from 58 white Tsaiya ducks revealed the significant associations between genetic variations (c.52G>A, c.376A>G, and c.409G>A) and plumage color in two maternal populations. After genotyping of 266 mule ducks, these three non-synonymous SNP identified in white Tsaiya ducks were significantly associated with plumage color of mule ducks. Therefore, the polymorphisms of MC1R gene at c.52G>A, c.376A>G, and c.409G>A in white Tsaiya duck could be used in marker-assisted selection to improve the plumage color of mule ducks.

Highlights

Animal coat and plumage color are determined by the pigment distribution or proportion of eumelanin and pheomelanin (Prota, 1980)
The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) gene on plumage coloration in mule ducks
Two SNP (c.52G>A and c.376G>A) showed a sole homozygous genotype AA and allele frequency in white Tsaiya ducks from the selection population compared with conservation population (Table 3), whereas c.409A>G SNP showed a sole homozygous genotype GG and allele frequency in selected white Tsaiya ducks (Table 4)

Summary

Introduction

Animal coat and plumage color are determined by the pigment distribution or proportion of eumelanin and pheomelanin (Prota, 1980). The content of eumelanin and pheomelanin is regulated by the melanocortin 1 receptor-mediated melanogenesis pathway (Schiöth et al, 2003). Melanocortin 1 receptor is activated by the binding of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH), which triggers eumelanin biosynthesis (Mundy, 2005). Active melanocortin 1 receptor caused by dominant gene mutation is highly correlated with black color, while recessive mutation of MC1R gene leads to a red or yellow phenotype in animals (Klungland et al, 1995; Marklund et al, 1996; Everts et al, 2000; Newton et al, 2000; Kerje et al, 2003). The mule duck is a major meat-type duck in Taiwan, and white feather color has economic advantages over black feather color because of consumer

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