News: Two independent studies by Stanford University (USA) and Kyushu University (Japan) have identified the ARHGAP36 gene as the reason behind the orange coat colour in ginger cats. The discovery ends a century-long mystery in feline genetics. ARHGAP36 gene
About ARHGAP36 gene
- The ARHGAP36 gene (Rho GTPase Activating Protein 36) encodes a regulatory protein that belongs to the Rho GTPase-activating protein (GAP) family.
- In orange cats, higher levels of RNA from the Arhgap36 gene are expressed in pigment cells.
- The protein produced by this gene limits a step in the pigment pathway, leading to reddish-yellow (orange) coat colour.
- In male cats (with one X chromosome), the presence of the orange mutation activates Arhgap36, leading to orange fur. In female cats (with two X chromosomes), a process called X-chromosome inactivation creates mosaic coat patterns like tortoiseshell or calico.
- Relevance to Human Health: ARHGAP36 has also been implicated in human conditions such as Skin cancer and Baldness (hair loss). The gene’s involvement in these conditions shows its conserved biological importance across species and opens up avenues for comparative biomedical research.
