In other species: horse , cattle , meadow voles , red fox , pig , sheep , domestic cat , rabbit , dog , coyote , goat , Eurasian water mole , Northern mole vole , North American deer mouse , alpaca , leopard , Asiatic golden cat , leopard cat , ass , impala , Colocolo , Kodkod , Arabian camel , Mongolian gerbil , domestic guinea pig , Western roe deer

Possibly relevant human trait(s) and/or gene(s) (MIM number): 611742

Mendelian trait/disorder: yes

Considered a defect: no

Key variant known: no

Cross-species summary: This locus, ASIP, encodes the agouti signalling protein, a peptide antagonist of the melanocyte-stimulating hormone receptor (MC1R), which is the product of the extension locus. As explained by Schneider et al. (PLoS Genet 10(2): e1004892; 2015), "The most common causes of melanism (black coat) mutations are gain-of-function alterations in MC1R, or loss-of function alterations in ASIP, which encodes Agouti signaling protein, a paracrine signaling molecule that inhibits MC1R signaling".

Molecular basis: Schmutz et al. (2007) documented polymorphisms in the ASIP gene of wolves and coyotes, some of which are shared by dogs.