Russet Coat Color (Burmese) – e^r

Acronym:	RCC
Gene:	MC1R
Mutation:	c.439_441del
Inheritance:	Autosomal recessive
Sample type:	CHS (Cheek Swab), WBE (Whole Blood EDTA)

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Genetics and characteristics

Coat color in cats is an important congenital characteristic along with hair length and growth pattern. Coat color is determined by the expression of two melanin pigments, eumelanin (black/brown) and pheomelanin (yellow/red) in a variety of mammalian species including cats. The Melanocortin 1 Receptor (MC1R) plays an essential role in the regulation of coat color determination and it is commonly referred to as the E (extension) Locus. It represents the key signaling molecule on melanocytes and it controls the production and balance of the pheomelanin and eumelanin pigments. So far three variants of the MC1R gene have been detected in cats, in Burmese, Kurilian Bobtail, and Norwegian Forest breeds. The variant found in Burmese cats is a consequence of a 3 base pair deletion resulting in the „russet“ or deepening reddish tone of coat color on the head and dorsal surfaces that start to show as the kitten grows.

The red color Burmese cats have an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance meaning only cats with two mutated variants of e will show a „russet“ coat color. Cats that are carrying only one mutated gene will not show a red phenotype but will act as carriers of the specific mutation in the MC1R gene and potentially pass it to their offspring. Since the completely red coat color develops later with age, genetic testing can identify carriers and help breeders in future mating pairs selection.

 

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Results Reported As

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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References:

Gustafson, N. A., Gandolfi, B., Lyons, L. A. (2017). Not another type of potato: MC1R and the russet coloration of Burmese cats. Animal genetics, 48(1), 116–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/age.12505