Differential methylation of melanin-related epigenetic genes during brindle cattle growth

Abstract

Coat pigmentation in mammals is the determined by the relative distribution of pheomelanin and eumelanin. The phenotype of these two pigments, when expressed in melanocytes, is regulated by the mechanism of melanogenesis and the agouti locus alleles. Therefore, the present study analyzed mutations in the coat color-related genes in two Korean cattle breeds i.e., Hanwoo and Korean brindle cattle. According to results the coat color-related epigenetic markers [differentially methylated CpGs (DM CpGs)], by reduced representation bisulfite sequencing showed that brindle cattle has the biological functions of DM CpG-associated genes. In particular, the present study analyzed the genetic variation of the post-forming factor and expression patterns of the genes that affect the coat color of brindle cattle and revealed that the determination of coat color of brindle cattle was distinct from that of other Korean Hanwoo. Thus, the mutation or activity of major factors of MAPK were involved in melanogenesis by the activation of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R). In addition, the MARK mechanism significantly affected melanogenesis, even at lower concentrations of MC1R. These results suggested the possibility that hair color could be determined by the mutation of the agouti gene in the black coat color section. Therefore, the results of this study could help in the modulation of coat color and positive selection of the Korean brindle cattle.