Polymorphism of the Melanocortin 1 Receptor (<i>MC1R</i>) Gene and its Role in Determining the Coat Colour of Central European Cattle Breeds
Karolina Kasprzak-Filipek,
Wioletta Sawicka-Zugaj,
Zygmunt Litwińczuk,
Witold Chabuz,
Rūta Šveistienė,
Josef Bulla
Affiliations
Karolina Kasprzak-Filipek
Sub-Department of Cattle Breeding and Genetic Resources Conservation, Institute of Animal Breeding and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Wioletta Sawicka-Zugaj
Sub-Department of Cattle Breeding and Genetic Resources Conservation, Institute of Animal Breeding and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Zygmunt Litwińczuk
Sub-Department of Cattle Breeding and Genetic Resources Conservation, Institute of Animal Breeding and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Witold Chabuz
Sub-Department of Cattle Breeding and Genetic Resources Conservation, Institute of Animal Breeding and Biodiversity Conservation, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
Rūta Šveistienė
Animal Science Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, A. Mickeviciaus 9, LT 44307 Kaunas, Lithuania
Josef Bulla
Department of Animal Physiology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Nitriansky Kraj, Slovakia
There are many genes responsible for the appearance of different coat colours, among which the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) plays an important role. The aim of the study was to characterize genetic variation in Central European cattle breeds based on polymorphism of the MC1R gene and factors determining their coat colour. The study was conducted on 290 individuals of the following breeds: Polish White-Backed (PW), Lithuanian White-Backed (LW), Polish Red (PR), Lithuanian Red (LR), Carpathian Brown (CB), Ukrainian Grey (UG), and Slovak Pinzgau (SP). Polymorphism at the MC1R gene locus was analysed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) using two restriction enzymes: Cfr10I and SsiI. The proportions of alleles and genotypes in the MC1R locus indicates a strong relationship between polymorphism and the coat colour of cattle: The ED allele proved to be characteristic for the breeds with a white-backed coat (PW and LW), while the dominant allele in the red breeds (PR and LR) was E+. It is noteworthy that coat colour in the SP population was determined only by the recessive e allele, which resulted in the formation of a separate clade in the phylogenetic tree.
