Topic:Melanocortin-1 receptor
The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is a protein encoded by the MC1R gene and is expressed in various tissues, including the skin and hair follicles of horses. It is involved in the regulation of pigmentation by influencing the type and amount of melanin produced. Variations in the MC1R gene are associated with different coat colors in horses, such as chestnut and black. These genetic variations can affect the receptor's function, altering melanin synthesis pathways. This topic encompasses research studies and scholarly articles that explore the genetic basis, physiological role, and implications of MC1R in equine coat color determination and genetics.
Identification of horse chestnut coat color genotype using SNaPshot. The Cantabrian Coast horse breeds of the Iberian Peninsula have mainly black or bay colored coats, but alleles responsible for a chestnut coat color run in these breeds and occasionally, chestnut horses are born. Chestnut coat color is caused by two recessive alleles, e and e(a), of the melanocortin-1 receptor gene, whereas the presence of the dominant, wild-type E allele produces black or bay coat horses. Because black or bay colored coats are considered as the purebred phenotype for most of the breeds from this region, it is important to have a fast and reliable method to detect alleles caus...
Technical note: a novel method for routine genotyping of horse coat color gene polymorphisms. The aim of this note is to describe a reliable, fast, and cost-effective real-time PCR method for routine genotyping of mutations responsible for most coat color variation in horses. The melanocortin-1 receptor, Agouti-signaling peptide, and membrane-associated transporter protein alleles were simultaneously determined using 2 PCR protocols. The assay described here is an alternative method for routine genotyping of a defined number of polymorphisms. Allelic variants are detected in real time and no post-PCR manipulations are required, therefore limiting costs and possible carryover contaminat...