Characterization and Expression Analysis of SLC7A11 in Llamas

E. FERNANDEZ,; LIDIA ARBELETCHE VIDAL RIOJA; LIDIA ARBELETCHE VIDAL RIOJA; M. ANELLO, ; F. DI ROCCO; M. ANELLO, ; F. DI ROCCO; E. FERNANDEZ,

Advances in Fibre Production Science in South American Camelids and other Fibre Animals.

Universitätsverlag Göttingen,

Lugar: Gottingen; Año: 2019; p. 63 - 69

Abstract. The llama (Lama glama) is a South American camelid which is gainingworldwide recognition for its fiber. Coat color is one of its most cherished andcommercially important characteristics; however, there is very little information about themolecular mechanisms that control pigmentation in llamas. SLC7A11 (solute carrier family7 number 11) encodes the light chain of cystine/glutamate exchanger, xCT, which has amajor role in pheomelanin synthesis Reports on these issues indicate for instance, that inmouse a mutation in SLC7A11 gene produce a diluted coat color due to a reduction inpheomelanin production (Chintala et al. (2005).Furthermore, differences in the skinexpression levels of SLC7A11 have been observed in brown and white alpacas (Tian et al.,2015). The aim of this study is to describe SLC7A11 coding region and to analyze itsvariation and expression in llamas of different coat color. For this purpose, skin biopsiesfrom 13 animals were collected, the RNA extracted and total cDNA obtained. cDNA wasused for PCR amplification and sequencing of the full coding region. In addition,expression levels were analyzed by Real Time PCR. Coding region of SLC7A11 consistedof 1,512 bp that encoded a 503-amino acid protein. Protein sequence analysis showed 12transmembrane helix regions with cytoplasmic N-terminal and C-terminal residues.Analysis with BLASTP showed 91-99 % identity to other mammals as well as a highlyconserved amino acid permease domain. Seven SNPs were observed in the llama DNAsequences, 6 synonymous and 1 non synonymous. Finally, preliminary results indicated thatexpression levels of SLC7A11 in undiluted phenotypes differ significantly from those indiluted and white, but no differentiation was found between diluted and white phenotypes.