Differential expression of the KIT gene in liaoning cashmere goats with different coat colors

Kit encodes a growth factor receptor that is expressed in the precursor of the melanophore. it plays an important role in the multiplication,migration and survival of melanophores. as of yet,no studies have addressed the diverse expression of the kit gene and its protein in goats of different fur colors. the effect of kit mutations on kit protein expression was examined in white cashmere and black cashmere goats. a single a→g missense mutation in exon 13 differentiated cashmere goats with different colors. only a histidine (h)→arginine (r) amino acid (aa) change was detected at kit exon 13 in both the white cashmere goat and the black cashmere goat. moreover,comparison with other species revealed three dramatic amino acid mutation areas. our results also indicated that c-kit expression was higher in the white cashmere goat than in the black goat,and this significant difference was detected by q-pcr and western blotting. all cashmere goats of different colors examined by immunohistochemical analysis showed either weak (the black cashmere goat) or strong (the white cashmere goat) expression of the kit protein. these findings suggested a relationship between mutations in kit exon 13 and differential fur color in cashmere goats. these results lay the foundation for further research on exon 13 of the kit gene and color regulation in cashmere goats. copyright 2017 zoological society of pakistan.