Polymorphism of the Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) Gene and its Role in Determining the Coat Colour of Central European Cattle Breeds

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Animal coat colour has been the subject of numerous studies for many years. While most phenotypic features of animals result from the interaction of genetic and environmental factors, coat colour is considered to be almost exclusively genetically determined. Differences in coat colour underscore the distinct character of a given breed or group of animals, testify to its uniqueness, and sometimes serve as selection criteria. Observations of changes in cattle coat colour are an important source of information used to track domestication processes and discover how animals were selected for breeding. One of the genes responsible for variation in coat colour is the melanocortin receptor (MC1R) gene locus, which controls the production of black and red pigments that determine basic colours. Other interacting genes also influence cattle phenotypes. In view of the complexity of the genetic factors influencing cattle coat colour, this study investigated the genetic basis of different coat colours of Central European cattle breeds. ABSTRACT: 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 E(D) 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.