Shizuoka University Developmental genetics on mechanisms of plumage pigmentation in quails

本研究以鹌鹑Bh（black at hatch）突变体为材料，分离了与Bh基因连锁的遗传标记，并对鹌鹑胚胎背羽黑黄条纹的发育进行了组织化学分析，得出以下结论：1. GDRDA使我们能够分离出3个与Bh基因座连锁的遗传标记，Bh基因座与每个标记基因座之间的近似遗传距离为1-14 cM。建立了PCR和限制性内切酶的基因分型方法. MelEM抗原表达在黑素细胞致力于产生黑色素之前，明显的黑素基因表达，和Bh杂合子和纯合子显示异常的MelEM抗原的表达模式。这些结果表明，MelEM抗原是一个很好的标记，黑素细胞致力于产生黑色色素，并建议Bh基因座指导黑素细胞产生真黑素在适当的位置。

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.