China Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine ›› 2021, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (12): 4588-4596.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2021.12.027

• Genetics and Breeding • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research Progress on Mechanism of Melanin Deposition and Related Candidate Genes in Black-bone Sheep

LIU Haixia1, ZHU Aiwen1, WANG Buzhong2, GENG Xinzhi1, ZHENG Ankang1   

  1. 1. Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocation College, Taizhou 225300, China;
    2. Jiangsu Xilaiyuan Ecological Agriculture Co., Ltd., Taizhou 225328, China
  • Received:2021-07-18 Online:2021-12-20 Published:2021-12-02

Abstract: Melanin, produced in melanocytes, is a water-insoluble polymer formed by the oxidative polymerization of phenols or indoles.It widely exists in microorganisms, animals and plants.It has the physiological functions of eliminating free radicals, antioxidation, inhibiting virus infection, activating immune system, improving body immunity and delaying aging.Under the effect of tyrosinase, tyrosine generates dopamine, dopamine forms melanin through a complex series of biological reactions.Existing studies have found that there are many signaling pathways (α-MSH/MC1R/cAMP signal pathway, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signal pathway, MAPK signal pathway, etc.) and related regulatory factors (MITF, MC1R, TYR, etc.) are involved in the formation of melanin.It is generally believed that mammalian melanocytes are mainly distributed in skin, hair follicles and other tissues, while a large number of melanocytes also exist in the visceral tissues of Black-bone sheep, and the formation mechanism of melanocytes was not clear yet.The character of Black-bone sheep is an important economic character, which is closely related to its nutritional and medicinal value and is affected by the degree of melanin deposition in body tissues.In this paper, the physical and chemical properties, biological functions, synthetic route and signaling pathways of melanin are reviewed, the research status of candidate functional genes affecting the deposition and distribution of melanin in Black-bone sheep are summarized.It is expected to provide reference for in-depth study of the regulation mechanism of melanin deposition and the application of candidate functional genes in production practice.

Key words: Black-bone sheep; melanin; signal pathway; candidate genes

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