Shizuoka University Developmental genetics on mechanisms of plumage pigmentation in quails

本研究分离了一些与Bh基因座连锁的遗传标记，并对胚胎背部羽毛中黑色和黄色纵纹的发育进行了组织化学分析，得到以下结论：1.GDRDA允许我们分离到3个与Bh基因座连锁的遗传标记，Bh基因座与每个标记座位之间的遗传距离约为1-14 cM。建立了利用聚合酶链式反应和限制性内切酶对这些遗传标记进行基因分型的方法。在黑素生成基因表达之前，MelEM抗原在致力于产生黑色素的黑素母细胞中表达，而Bh杂合子和纯合子则表现出MelEM抗原的异常表达模式。这些结果表明，MelEM抗原是致力于产生黑色素的黑素母细胞的良好标记物，并提示Bh基因座引导黑素细胞在适当的位置产生真黑素。

The present study with quail Bh (black at hatch) mutants isolated some genetic markers linked to the Bh locus, histochemically analyzed the development of the longitudinal black and yellow stripes of pigments in the embryonic dorsal plumages, and led to the following conclusions :1. GDRDA allowed us to isolate three genetic markers linked to the Bh locus, and the approximate genetic distances between the Bh locus and each marker locus are 1-14 cM. Genotyping methods using PCR and a restriction enzyme were established for those genetic markers.2. MelEM antigen was expressed in melanoblasts committed to produce black pigment before apparent melanogenic gene expression, and Bh heterozygotes and homozygotes showed abnormal expression patterns of the MelEM antigen. These results indicate that MelEM antigen is a good marker for melanoblasts committed to produce black pigment, and suggest that the Bh locus directs melanocytes to produce eumelanin in proper position.