Genetic Variants on SLC45A2 Gene Associated with White Coat Color in the Dromedary Camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Background: Dromedary camel coat color is an important trait that breeders aim to select for certain coat colors camels. Few efforts showed that MC1R, ASIP, TYR and KIT genes are associated with different coat colors in the species. However, Solute Carrier Family 45 Member 2 (SLC45A2) gene is considered as a key factor in pigmentation pathway associated with coat color phenotypes in many domesticated animals but not studied in the dromedary. We hypothesize that SLC45A2 sequence variants of SLC45A2 are associated with different color phenotypes in the dromedary camel. Therefore, our current study aims to show the SLC45A2 gene sequence in the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) coat color. Methods: The study is conducted on samples collected from 135 dromedaries representing 5 coat color groups: white (n=48), light brown (n=28), brown (n=20), dark brown (n=21) and black (n=18). Result: We identified 2 missense mutations (c.95 C greater than T; T32M and c.1494 C greater than G; S498R), 4 synonymous mutations (c.633 G greater than C, c.783 G greater than C, c.879 T greater than C and c.975 C greater than T) and one variant in intron 4 (g.23719513 C greater than T). c.1494 C greater than G; S498R is associated with white phenotype, where the G allele is only found in white phenotype (p-value less than 0.001). As far as we know, this is the first report to investigate SLC45A2 genetic variants and their association with coat color phenotypes in the dromedary. The results might assist in the discovery of a reliable coat color testing in the dromedary.