Identification of polymorphisms in MITF and DCT genes and their associations with plumage colors in Asian duck breeds

• Published in: Asian-australasian journal of animal sciences 2018, Vol.31 (2), p.180-188
• Main Authors: Sultana, Hasina, Seo, Dongwon, Choi, Nu-Ri, Bhuiyan, Md. Shamsul Alam, Lee, Seung Hwan, Heo, Kang-Nyeong, Lee, Jun-Heon
• Format: Article
• Language: Korean
• ISSN: 1011-2367; 1976-5517

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the melanogenesis associated transcription factor (MITF) and dopachrome tautomerase (DCT) genes on plumage coloration in Asian native duck breeds. MITF encodes a protein for microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, which regulates the development and function of melanocytes for pigmentation of skin, hair, and eyes. Among the tyrosinase-related family genes, DCT is a pigment cell-specific gene that plays important roles in the melanin synthesis pathway and the expression of skin, feather, and retina color. Methods: Five Asian duck varieties (black Korean native, white Korean native, commercial Peking, Nageswari, and Bangladeshi Deshi white ducks) were investigated to examine the polymorphisms associated with plumage colors. Among previously identified SNPs, three synonymous SNPs and one indel of MITF and nine SNPs in exon regions of DCT were genotyped. The allele frequencies for SNPs of the black and white plumage color populations were estimated and Fisher's exact test was conducted to assess the association between the allele frequencies of these two populations. Results: Two synonymous SNPs (c.114T>G and c.147T>C) and a 14-bp indel (GCTGCAAAC AGATG) in intron 7 of MITF were significantly associated with the black- and white-colored breeds (pG (p.His313Arg)] in DCT, was highly significantly associated (pG) was significantly associated (p