Cloning of genes controlling quail plumage pigmentation and their expression

本研究以鹌鹑Bh（black at hatch）突变体为研究对象，旨在揭示羽毛色素形成模式的分子机制。通过2003年和2004年的研究，获得以下主要结论：1.克隆了鹌鹑α-MSH及其受体（MC 1 R）和agglutinin蛋白的cDNA。尽管其mRNA的定位与羽毛色素沉着模式无关，但表皮细胞中产生的α-MSH可以作用于羽芽中表达MC 1 R的黑素细胞，导致黑色素的产生。2. Bh基因定位于1号染色体的长臂（FISH分析）3.利用鸡基因组进行生物信息学分析和Bh鹌鹑的连锁分析表明，Bh基因可能位于MHD 1B 3和Q1 H3 orf 1之间。在1号染色体上。

The present study with quail Bh (black at hatch) mutants was undertaken to reveal molecular mechanisms of pattern formation in plumage pigmentation. The following conclusions were obtained from the studies carried out in 2003 and 2004 :1.Quail cDNAs for α-MSH, its receptor (MC1R) and agouti protein were cloned. Although the localization of their mRNAs is not related to the plumage pigmentation pattern, α-MSH produced in epidermal cells can work on melanocytes expressing MC1R in feather germs, leading to melanin production.2.The Bh gene maps to the long-arm of chromosome 1 (FISH analysis).3.Bioinformatics analysis using the chicken genome and linkage analysis in Bh quails showed that the Bh gene may be located between MHD1B3 and Q1H3orf1 in chromosome 1.