Abstract

Melanophilin (mlph) gene was characterized as the candidate gene for dilute coat color in human, mice and dog, but little is known in goat. Nine linked SNPs were found in goat mlph gene by sequencing a total of 108 individuals from 5 goat populations. No homozygous mutation of the linked SNPs was detected, so we made a hypothesis that the mutation allele might be or might be linked with a recessive lethal gene. In addition, the nine mutational sites as well as a 205 bp coding region in the sequenced segment were compared with homologous sites or region from other species. Result showed that the overall mean distance (p-distance model) and Std. Err are 0.35 and 0.02 among goat, sheep and other eight mammals for the 205 bp coding region. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the codon used in primates may be more similar to that in bovid rather than in rodent animals.

Key words: Melanophilin, goat, coding SNPs, linkage.