The Dark brown plumage color in chickens is caused by an 8.3 kb deletion upstream of SOX10.

• The Dark brown mutation in chickens reduces expression of black eumelanin and enhances expression of red pheomelanin but only in certain parts of the plumage. Here we present genetic evidence that an 8.3 kb deletion upstream of the SOX10 transcription start site is the causal mutation underlying the Dark brown phenotype. The SOX10 transcription factor has a well-established role in melanocyte biology and is essential for melanocyte migration and survival. Previous studies have demonstrated that the mouse homolog of a highly conserved element within the deleted region is a SOX10 enhancer. The mechanism of action of this mutation remains to be established but one possible scenario is that the deletion leads to reduced SOX10 expression which in turn down-regulates expression of key enzymes in pigment synthesis such as tyrosinase. Lower tyrosinase activity leads to a shift towards a more pheomelanistic (reddish) plumage color, which is the characteristic feature of the Dark brown phenotype.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi -- Annan biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences -- Other Biological Topics (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Veterinärmedicin (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Veterinary Science (hsv//eng)

LANTBRUKSVETENSKAPER  -- Veterinärmedicin -- Medicinsk biovetenskap (hsv//swe)

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES  -- Veterinary Science -- Medical Bioscience (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

VETERINARY MEDICINE

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