Copper Gene Mutation Identified
At Belle Ayr Cats we have been able to trace how the CORIN Copper gene is genetically carried and can act as a recessive gene. The attached document shows how the CORIN Copper gene is carried, using some of our cats and kittens as examples.
"Golden cats: A never-ending story!" is the title of a scientific article, and a follow-up piece, published in Animal Genetics by Marie Abitbol and her colleagues in 2022. These papers discuss the complex genetics behind the "golden" coat color variations in domestic cats, specifically in British Shorthairs and Siberians.
The research focuses on different mutations in the CORIN gene that cause a "wideband" effect, which restricts dark pigment (eumelanin) to the very tip of the hair shaft, making the rest of the hair appear golden or cream-colored (pheomelanin).
Key findings from the research include:
Identification of CORIN variants The studies identified specific recessive variants in the CORIN gene responsible for different golden phenotypes, such as "sunshine" in Siberians and "copper" (or "light gold") in British cats.
The "Wideband" Phenotype The golden appearance results from an enlarged subapical pheomelanin band in the hair, which aligns with the "wideband" phenotype observed in other animals like golden tigers and mice.
Complex Inheritance The title "A never-ending story!" reflects the complexity of the trait, as different CORIN mutations interact with each other and the ASIP (agouti signaling protein) gene to produce a range of coat colors.
This work has been significant for cat breeders and geneticists, providing molecular explanations for previously mysterious coat color variations. Genetic testing for these variants is now available and helps breeders understand the inheritance patterns in their cats.
Belle Ayr Cats GB/UK contributed samples to the research and has received confirmation that we have bred cats that are homozygous (have inherited the DNA sequence from both parents) for the mutation.
Prof. Abitbol has informed us that some of our cats have a lighter variation of the "copper" coloring. She has asked us to contribute more samples to enable her team to try and identify the mutation that lightens the copper colour.
We have a few litters now with this mutation across three generations. These litters display both the CORIN Copper Gold and the lightened CORIN Copper Silver range.
All our copper ny12 cats are homozygous mutant for copper: they are all copper cats.
This is a different gene to the our other British Classic Golden & Silver Tipped cats. These cats were used as controls in the research and showed to be heterozygous C/T cats and not copper. These cats are golden ticked tabby, golden shaded or with traditional colours (brown and silver tabby, silver shaded or solid).
Read the full publication:
