Relationship between the melanocortin receptor 1 (MC1R) gene and the coat color phenotype in cattle

The MC1R gene is related to coat color in cattle and to lactoprotein content in milk.Polymerase chain reac-tion-restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA sequencing were used to analyze the MC1R of China Holstein Black-white Cattle,China Holstein Red-white Cattle,Luxi Yellow Cattle and Bohai Black Cattle.Three alleles(ED,E+ and e) were identified.Most China Holstein Black-white Cattle had ED and E+ alleles(ED = 0.12,E+ = 0.80).The same was true for Bohai Black Cattle(ED = 0.52,E+ = 0.47).On the other hand,most China Holstein Red-white Cattle and Luxi Yellow Cattle had the e allele(e/e = 0.95).E+/e genotype was present in China Holstein Red-white Cattle and Luxi Yellow Cattle.We reasoned that ED and E+ lad to the synthesis of the black pigment.Furthermore,we found an important SNP(Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) at 725 position of the MC1R coding region.