Regulatory Pathway Analysis of Coat Color Genes in Mongolian Horses

The study analyzed gene expression profiles in Mongolian horses with white and black coats using Illumina sequencing, identifying 231 differentially expressed unigenes. Among these, 119 were down-regulated and 112 were up-regulated in black-coated horses. Genes related to tyrosine metabolism, keratin, MIA family, fatty acids, and melanoma were notably differentially expressed, suggesting their roles in coat color regulation. The research provided insights into the genetic control of skin melanin synthesis in horses, potentially informing understanding of human skin conditions like melanoma and albinism.