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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Anim Sci / Synergy between MC1R and ASIP for coat color in horses (Equu...
Journal of animal science2019; 97(4); 1578-1585; doi: 10.1093/jas/skz071

Synergy between MC1R and ASIP for coat color in horses (Equus caballus)1.

Abstract: Through domestication and human selection, horses have acquired various coat colors, including seven phenotypes: black, brown, dark bay, bay, chestnut, white, and gray. Here we determined the genotypes for melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP) in 709 horses from 15 breeds. We found that the EEEE genotype frequency at MC1R decreased from dark to light colors (black = 64.5%, brown = 67.5%, dark bay = 47.0%, bay = 16.5%, and chestnut = 0.0%), whereas the AAAA genotype frequency at ASIP increased as coat color lightened (black = 0.0%, brown = 22.9%, dark bay = 69.2%, and bay = 83.0%). When combined genotypes at MC1R and ASIP were examined, different advantage genotype combinations were found for each color: black EEEE-AaAa (64.5%), brown EEEE-AAAa (47.0%), dark bay EEEE-AAAA, and EEEe-AAAA (36.2% and 33.0%, totally 69.2%), bay EEEe-AAAA (69.6%), and chestnut EeEe-AAAA (62.6%). The χ2 test showed that the phenotypes of horse coat colors were significantly related with the genotypes of MC1R and ASIP (p < 0.001). Furthermore, in contrast to a previous study where AaAa was only found in black, chestnut, and gray horses, we also found this allele in brown, dark bay, bay, and white horses. These results indicated that MC1R and ASIP may synergistically affect the levels of melanin in equine coat colors and that additional genes are likely involved in regulating coat colors, especially for white and gray colors. Our research provides new data for further studies on the synergetic actions of MC1R and ASIP in coat color of horses.
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.
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Publication Date: 2019-02-21 PubMed ID: 30785190PubMed Central: PMC6447268DOI: 10.1093/jas/skz071Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study explores how the genotypes of two genes, melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) and agouti signaling protein (ASIP), influence the coat color of horses. The study established a correlation between these genotypes and the various shades from dark to light in horse coats.

Methodology and Findings

  • The researchers obtained and analyzed the genotypes for MC1R and ASIP in a sample of 709 horses from 15 different breeds.
  • The frequencies of the EEEE genotype at MC1R were found to decrease as the coats moved from dark colors like black (64.5%) to lighter colors such as bay (16.5%) and chestnut (0%).
  • Conversely, the AAAA genotype frequency at ASIP increased as coat colors lightened, with no instances in black horses but 83.0% prevalence in bay horses.
  • Different advantageous genotype combinations were found for each color, indicating a synergistic action of MC1R and ASIP.

Comparison with Previous Studies

  • This study contradicts some aspects of previous research by demonstrating that the AaAa allele was also found in brown, dark bay, bay, and white horses, not just black, chestnut, and gray horses as was previously believed.

Significance and Possibility of More Influencing Genes

  • The χ2 test revealed that the phenotypes of horse coat colors have a significant correlation with the genotypes of MC1R and ASIP.
  • The research points to the likelihood of more genes that are involved in the regulation of coat colors, especially for shades of white and gray.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes by affirming the relationship between MC1R and ASIP and their combined influence on the coat color of horses, paving the way for further research into this phenomenon.

Cite This Article

APA
Shang S, Yu Y, Zhao Y, Dang W, Zhang J, Qin X, Irwin DM, Wang Q, Liu F, Wang Z, Zhang S, Wang Z. (2019). Synergy between MC1R and ASIP for coat color in horses (Equus caballus)1. J Anim Sci, 97(4), 1578-1585. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skz071

Publication

Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
NlmUniqueID: 8003002
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 97
Issue: 4
Pages: 1578-1585

Researcher Affiliations

Shang, Songyang
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Yu, Yan
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Zhao, Yuxin
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Dang, Wanyi
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Zhang, Junpeng
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Qin, Xia
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Irwin, David M
  • Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Wang, Qin
  • Chinese Academy of Inspection and Quarantine, Beijing, China.
Liu, Fei
  • Shenyang Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Shenyang, China.
Wang, Zhenshan
  • College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China.
Zhang, Shuyi
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.
Wang, Zhe
  • Institute of Equine Sciences, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, China.

MeSH Terms

  • Agouti Signaling Protein / genetics
  • Alleles
  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Color
  • Female
  • Genetic Variation
  • Genotype
  • Horses / genetics
  • Horses / physiology
  • Male
  • Phenotype
  • Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / genetics

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Citations

This article has been cited 11 times.
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