Categories: Pigmentation phene

Links to possible relevant human trait(s) and/or gene(s) in OMIM: 601924 (gene)

Mendelian trait/disorder: yes

Mode of inheritance: Autosomal incomplete dominant

Disease-related: yes

Key variant known: yes

Year key variant first reported: 2022

Species-specific symbol: Cr

Species-specific description: First reported by Trapezov (1997), this mutant is characterised by white guard hairs which produce a veil-like covering of the body. Homozygotes have a Himalayan coat colour.

Molecular basis: Manakhov et al. (2022): "we performed whole-genome sequencing of American mink with Cr/Cr phenotype. We identified a missense mutation in the gene encoding the α-COP subunit of the COPI complex (COPA). The COPI complex mediates retrograde trafficking from the Golgi system to the endoplasmic reticulum and sorting of transmembrane proteins. We observed an interaction between a newly identified mutation in the COPA gene and a mutation in the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), the latter mutation led to the formation of the white Hedlund (h/h) phenotype. Double heterozygotes for these mutations have an entirely white coat and a black-eyed phenotype similar to the phenotype of Cr/Cr or h/h minks."

Associated gene: