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S. Vulgaris and Squirrels (Grey)
S. Vulgaris and Squirrels (Grey)
S. Vulgaris and Squirrels (Grey)
Abstract
The black squirrel is a melanic variant of the gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis). We found 3 coat color variants in the gray
squirrel: the wild-type gray, a jet-black, and a brownblack phenotype. These 3 morphs are due to varying distributions of
eumelanin and phaeomelanin pigment in hairs. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) plays a central role in regulating
eumelanin and phaeomelanin production. We sequenced the MC1R gene for all 3 coat color phenotypes and found
a 24 base-pair deletion. The gray phenotype was homozygous for the wild-type allele E, the jet-black phenotype was
homozygous for the MC1R-D24 allele EB, and the brownblack phenotype was heterozygous for the E and EB alleles. We
conclude that melanism in gray squirrels is associated with the MC1R-D24 EB allele at amino acid positions 8794 and that
this allele is incompletely dominant to the wild-type allele. We predict that the MC1R-D24 EB allele encodes a constitutively
active or hyperactive receptor.
Key words: gray squirrel, MC1R, melanocortin 1 receptor, melanism, Sciurus carolinensis
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Journal of Heredity 2009:100(6)
Figure 1. Diagrammatic representation of hair types from different parts of the body for the wild-type gray, jet-black, and
brownblack phenotypes of the gray squirrel, Sciurus carolinensis. White indicates little or no pigment (white hair), gray indicates
phaeomelanin (gray hair), and black indicates eumelanin (black hair).
on and ASIP binding representing off. Mutations in the with melanism include the L99P substitution in cattle and pigs
MC1R can affect its fundamental ability to function as (Klungland et al. 1995; Kijas et al. 1998), the MC1R-D15 in the
a switch (reviewed by Garcia-Borron et al. 2005). jaguar, Panthera onca, and MC1R-D24 in the jaguarundis,
A number of MC1R mutations have been identified that Herpailurus yaguarondi (Eizirik et al. 2003). In contrast, the S69L
result in the constitutive activation of the receptor leading to mutation in the tobacco mouse leads to increased activation
the production of eumelanin even in the absence of a ligand when bound by its ligand (Robbins et al. 1993).
(Robbins et al. 1993). These mutations, leading to melanism in Many mutations of the MC1R associated with melanism
the mouse, chicken, fox, and sheep, have been pharmacolog- are located around the boundary of the second trans-
ically investigated and found to be constitutively active: membrane domain and the second extracellular loop or the
specifically, the E92K mutation in mice with the sombre allele third transmembrane domain and third extracellular loop
(Robbins et al. 1993), the E92K mutation in chickens with the (Robbins et al. 1993; Eizirik et al. 2003; Mundy 2005).
E and ER alleles (Ling et al. 2003), the C125R mutation in the Studies of 3-dimensional models of the MC1R and its ligand
fox with the EA allele (Vage et al. 1997), and the D119N suggest that a MSH could bind to a pocket below the
mutation in the sheep (Lu et al. 1998). The E92K mutation is plasma membrane between the second, third, and sixth
also associated with melanism in the bananaquit, Coereba flaveola transmembrane domains on the MC1R. This is an acidic
(Theron et al. 2001), and the Japanese quail, Coturnix japonica domain where there is likely to be an interaction with the
(Nadeau et al. 2006), but has not been pharmacologically arginine in the a MSH (Prusis et al. 1995; Lu et al. 1998 and
investigated in these 2 species. Other mutations associated reviewed by Garcia-Borron et al. 2005). Replacement of the
acidic residues with basic residues as in the E92, D119, and
Table 1. Frequencies of the E and the EB alleles from the 3 C125 mutations leads to constitutive activation where the
different phenotypes of Sciurus carolinensis showing complete mutation is thought to have the effect of mimicking ligand
concordance between the presence of the EB allele and the binding (Lu et al. 1998). These gain of function mutations
melanic phenotype result in increased eumelanogenesis and are dominant.
Alleles/phenotype Gray Brownblack Jet black Total Other mutations, which result in loss of function, lead to
increased phaeomelanogenesis and are recessive (Robbins
E 32 16 0 48 et al. 1993). Melanism can also be the result of mutations in
EB 0 16 4 20
the ASIP gene (Vrieling et al. 1994).
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McRobie et al. Melanism in the Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
The spread of the black squirrel across the counties of on a DNA thermocycler (Techne touchgene gradient) in
Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, and Hertfordshire in the UK a total volume of 25 ll using approximately 25 ng template
has inspired much general interest. Considering the critical DNA, 1 Bioline PCR buffer, 3 mM Bioline MgCl2,
role of the MC1R in coat color variation in so many species, 0.2 mM dNTPs, 0.4 lM primers, and 0.1 ll Bioline Taq
this gene appeared to be the ideal candidate to begin polymerase using the following PCR parameters: initial
investigating the genetic basis of melanism in the gray denaturation 94 C for 2 min followed by 35 cycles of 94 C
squirrel (S. carolinensis). for 30 s, 60.2 C for 45 s, and 72 C for 1 min. The final
extension was 72 C for 5 min. PCR products were
sequenced using the ABI Prism 3130 Genetic Analyzer, and
Materials and Methods sequences were inspected manually with particular attention
paid to the heterozygotes and aligned with the CLUSTAL W
Thirty-four squirrels (mostly from Cambridgeshire) were program.
sampled comprising 16 gray and 18 melanic (16 brown
black and 2 jet black) squirrels. Hairs removed from the
dorsum, flank, and belly of the squirrels were examined in
detail under a microscope. Genomic DNA was extracted
Results and Discussion
from skeletal muscle of the hind leg using a commercial kit We identified 3 phenotypes of gray squirrel. These
(Qiagen Tissue kit). The primers mshr4f (5#-TGC TTC phenotypes are completely distinct and readily identifiable
CTG GAC AGG ACT ATG-3#) and mc1r11r (5#-TCG as wild-type gray, brownblack, and jet black. Microscopic
TGT CGT YGT GRA GGA AC-3#) were used to amplify inspection of hairs removed from the dorsum, flank, and
99% of the MC1R gene. The polymerase chain reaction belly revealed that the wild-type gray had 6 distinct hair
(PCR) product from this reaction was then used to perform types, compared with 4 from the brownblack and only
nested PCR using the mshr4f and mc1r3r primers (5#-GGC 1 from the jet-black squirrel. Figure 1 summarizes the hair
AAG CAT GTG GAT GTA GA-3#). This enabled the first types found in each phenotype. These different hair types
627 base pairs of the gene to be sequenced. The second give the gray an overall grizzled appearance with a white
section of the gene was amplified using the primers mc1r10f underbelly, the brownblack an overall dark brown
(5#-CAG CCT RGG GCT GGT GAG-3#) and mc1rer5 appearance with an orange underbelly, and the jet black
(5#-CAC AGG ATG CAG GCC ACT-3#). The PCR a uniform black appearance.
product from this reaction was then used to perform nested Analysis of the wild-type gray and melanic squirrel
PCR using the primers mc1r2f (5#-GAC CG (GC) TAC sequences revealed a 24 base-pair in-frame deletion (MC1R-
ATC TCC ATC TTC-3#) and mc1rer2 (5#-ACT GTC ACC D24) in all the melanic squirrels at amino acid positions
CTC TNC CCA GN-3#). This allowed the last 533 base 8794. We have named the wild-type allele E and the
pairs to be sequenced. All PCR reactions were carried out melanic allele EB. The complete sequence for both alleles
Figure 2. Diagrammatic representation of the MC1R protein of Sciurus carolinensis showing the 314 amino acids. Dark gray circles
indicate the deleted amino acids of the EB allele. Information for the predicted sequence of the MC1R protein was obtained from
Robbins et al. (1993) and Mundy (2005).
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Journal of Heredity 2009:100(6)
Figure 3. Amino acid alignments of MC1R variants in the squirrel, pig, mouse, cattle, jaguar, jaguarundis, rabbit, bananaquit,
chicken, and Japanese quail. Numbering is according to the human MC1R. The wild type (wt) of each species is shown in contrast
to the melanistic variant underneath. Dashes indicate agreement with the consensus sequence used (squirrel-E). Bold letters with
asterisks indicate substitutions associated with melanism, and triangles indicate deletions. Transmembrane domains are indicated by
boxes. The second transmembrane domain begins at amino acid position 71 and ends at position 99. Sequences were obtained
from GenBank using the following accession numbers: pig-MC1R*1 AF082487, pig-MC1R*2 AF082488, jaguar-wt AY237396,
jaguar-mel AY237397, jaguarundis-red AY237399, jaguarundis-dark AY 237398, rabbit-wt AM180878, rabbit-ED AM180880,
bananaquit-Y AF362600, bananaquit-M AF362601, chicken-wt DQ395092, chicken-B AB201631, Japanese quail-wt AB201633,
and Japanese quail-black AB201635. Sequence information was also obtained from Kijas et al. (1998).
can be found on GenBank accession numbers EU604830 Incomplete dominance is also observed in melanism in the
and EU604831. The gray squirrel was found to be jaguarundis, which is associated with a 24 base-pair deletion
homozygous for the E allele, the brownblack heterozy- in a similar position in the MC1R gene as shown in Figure 3
gous for the E and EB alleles, and the jet black (Eizirik et al. 2003).
homozygous for the EB allele. Table 1 summarizes the The MC1R-D24 falls in the second transmembrane
complete concordance between the presence of the EB allele domain of the encoded protein. Figure 2 shows positions of
and the melanic phenotype. the amino acids and the deletion on the MC1R of S. carolinensis.
Considering the intermediate coloring and heterozygous The deletion is close to many other mutations associated with
genotype of these brownblack squirrels, we conclude that melanism. Figure 3 shows a selection of amino acid sequence
the EB allele is incompletely dominant to the E allele. alignments, illustrating how many of these mutations are
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McRobie et al. Melanism in the Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
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Journal of Heredity 2009:100(6)
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Nat Cambridgeshire. 46:61. ences in dorsal and ventral pigmentation result from regional expres-
Vage DI, Lu D, Klungland H, Lien S, Adalsteinsson S, Cone RD. 1997. A sion of the mouse agouti gene. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 91:56675671.
non-epistatic interaction of agouti and extension in the fox, Vulpes vulpes.
Nat Genet. 15:311315. Received June 28, 2009; Revised June 28, 2009;
Valverde PE, Healy I, Jackson JL, Rees J, Thody AJ. 1995. Variants of the Accepted June 29, 2009
melanocyte stimulating hormone receptor gene are associated with red hair
and fair skin in humans. Nat Genet. 11:328330. Corresponding Editor: William Modi
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