Chromosomal Localization of Candidate Genes for Fiber Growth and Color in Alpaca ( Vicugna pacos )

• Published in: Frontiers in genetics Vol. 10; p. 583
• Main Authors: Mendoza, Mayra N, Raudsepp, Terje, Alshanbari, Fahad, Gutiérrez, Gustavo, Ponce de León, F Abel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 19-06-2019
• Subjects: alpaca; chromosomes; color; fiber; FISH; Genetics; mapping; fiber; mapping; color; genes; alpaca; chromosomes; FISH
• ISSN: 1664-8021; 1664-8021
• DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00583

The alpaca (
) is an economically important and cultural signature species in Peru. Thus, molecular genomic information about the genes underlying the traits of interest, such as fiber properties and color, is critical for improved breeding and management schemes. Current knowledge about the alpaca genome, particularly the chromosomal location of such genes of interest is limited and lags far behind other livestock species. The main objective of this work was to localize alpaca candidate genes for fiber growth and color using fluorescence
hybridization (FISH). We report the mapping of candidate genes for fiber growth
,
,
,
,
, and
to chromosomes 16, 17, 4, 16, 1, and 16, respectively. Likewise, we report the mapping of candidate genes for fiber color
,
,
,
, and
to chromosomes 9, 19, 16, 1, and 14, respectively. In addition, since
clusters with five other keratin genes (
,
,
,
, and
) in scaffold 450 (Vic.Pac 2.0.2), the entire gene cluster was assigned to chromosome 16. Similarly, mapping
to chromosome 19, anchored scaffold 34 with 8 genes, viz.,
,
,
,
,
,
,
, and
to chromosome 19. These results are concordant with known conserved synteny blocks between camelids and humans, cattle and pigs.