Menalocytes are specialised cells that contain organelles known as melanosomes. Melanophilin is essential for the even distribution, transport, and translocation of melanin (pigment granules). This gene provides instructions for making melanophilin, a carrier protein that is found in pigment-producing melanocytes. Dilute calico coloursĭilution is caused by a single base deletion 1 bp in the melanophilin (MLPH) gene. This unusual coat colour is seen almost exclusively in purebred cats. Image Ewa Studio, ShutterstockĬinnamon and red Image Alexnau, ShutterstockĬinnamon is a variation of brown, caused by a second recessive mutation of the tyrosinase – related protein – 1, ( TYRP1 ) which causes a further elongation of the pigment granule, resulting in a light, warm brown colour. Image Nazir Azhari, ShutterstockĬhocolate is a variant of black due to a mutation of the tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TYRP1) which replaces the spherical black pigment granules with oval granules resulting in a rich chocolate colour. This is by far the most common calico colour which consists of solid patches of black, red tabby (red is always tabby), and white. This striking coat combination occurs almost exclusively in female cats. Genes represented with an UPPERCASE letter are dominant, and the cat only needs to inherit one copy of the gene, lowercase letters are recessive, and the cat must inherit two copies for the trait to show.Īlso known as a tri-colour, calico is a combination of two colours, plus white (which is not a colour, but an absence of colour). The photo below shows phaeomelanin (red pigment) and eumelanin (black or brown pigment) side by side on a caliby cat. All calico cats inherit one copy of the orange gene and therefore will display red or cream if they carry dilution. The recessive dilute gene, dilutes these primary colours making them appear paler. Black based: Black, brown (chocolate), cinnamon.Coat coats contain two pigments, phaeomelanin (red pigment) and eumelanin (black or brown pigment), these can further be split into colours depending on the shape of the pigment (round or oval) or the number and distribution of pigment granules.
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