Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic
The “brown” phenotype in alpacas, as described by breeders, is heterogeneous and probably has diverse aetiology. Various “brown” alpaca phenotypes were investigated to try to determine their genetic origin. Using both spectrophotometric and HPLC tests we have determined the total amount of melanin a...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
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Elsevier BV
2013
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3624 |
| _version_ | 1848744282165346304 |
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| author | Cransberg, Rhys Wakamatsu, Kazu Munyard, Kylie |
| author_facet | Cransberg, Rhys Wakamatsu, Kazu Munyard, Kylie |
| author_sort | Cransberg, Rhys |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | The “brown” phenotype in alpacas, as described by breeders, is heterogeneous and probably has diverse aetiology. Various “brown” alpaca phenotypes were investigated to try to determine their genetic origin. Using both spectrophotometric and HPLC tests we have determined the total amount of melanin and relative amounts of eumelanin and pheomelanin in a group of alpacas from Australia. The distribution of colour across different parts of the fleece was also analysed. Spectrophotometrically there was no significant difference in the eumelanin:pheomelanin ratio between white and light fawn (P = 0.238), fawn(P = 0.428), brown (P = 0.208), and red brown samples (P = 0.232); all of which were predominantly pheomelanic. This data was supported by a comparison between alpacas described as “brown” by breeders, and known eumelanic brown dogs, between which a clear difference in the type of melanins present was seen. HPLC analysis confirmed that the fibre of all the “brown” alpacas sampled in this study contained predominantly pheomelanic melanin, rather than eumelanin, indicating the possible absence of the eumelanic brown phenotype in the species. This data suggests that “brown” in alpacas is predominantly caused by pheomelanin and that variations between different “brown” colours are caused by changes in pheomelanin levels, and relative amounts of black eumelanin, as opposed to brown eumelanin. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:58:59Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-3624 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T05:58:59Z |
| publishDate | 2013 |
| publisher | Elsevier BV |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-36242017-09-13T14:44:02Z Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic Cransberg, Rhys Wakamatsu, Kazu Munyard, Kylie HPLC Colour Alpaca Eumelanin Pheomelanin The “brown” phenotype in alpacas, as described by breeders, is heterogeneous and probably has diverse aetiology. Various “brown” alpaca phenotypes were investigated to try to determine their genetic origin. Using both spectrophotometric and HPLC tests we have determined the total amount of melanin and relative amounts of eumelanin and pheomelanin in a group of alpacas from Australia. The distribution of colour across different parts of the fleece was also analysed. Spectrophotometrically there was no significant difference in the eumelanin:pheomelanin ratio between white and light fawn (P = 0.238), fawn(P = 0.428), brown (P = 0.208), and red brown samples (P = 0.232); all of which were predominantly pheomelanic. This data was supported by a comparison between alpacas described as “brown” by breeders, and known eumelanic brown dogs, between which a clear difference in the type of melanins present was seen. HPLC analysis confirmed that the fibre of all the “brown” alpacas sampled in this study contained predominantly pheomelanic melanin, rather than eumelanin, indicating the possible absence of the eumelanic brown phenotype in the species. This data suggests that “brown” in alpacas is predominantly caused by pheomelanin and that variations between different “brown” colours are caused by changes in pheomelanin levels, and relative amounts of black eumelanin, as opposed to brown eumelanin. 2013 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3624 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2013.07.004 Elsevier BV restricted |
| spellingShingle | HPLC Colour Alpaca Eumelanin Pheomelanin Cransberg, Rhys Wakamatsu, Kazu Munyard, Kylie Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title | Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title_full | Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title_fullStr | Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title_short | Melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (Vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| title_sort | melanin characterisation suggests that the “brown” phenotype in alpaca (vicugna pacos) is predominantly pheomelanic |
| topic | HPLC Colour Alpaca Eumelanin Pheomelanin |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/3624 |