Coat length - test of FGF5-gene variants in Akitas

In Akitas, there was found c.578C˃T FGF5 gene variant that causes long coat. In Akitas, long coat phenotype is visible in age of 3-4 weeks (Dierks et al. 2013).

Genomia tests 4 FGF5 gene variants (c.284G>T, c.556_571del16, c.559_560dupGG, c.578C>T (Diers et al. 2013)) that influence the length of coat. For further information about FGF5 gene variants continue...

Table of FGF5 gene variants (Dierks et al. 2013)

Gene variant FGF5	Protein variant	Breed
M1: c.284G>T	p.Cys95Phe	Many breeds
M2: g.8193T>A (Genomia does not test this variant)	Blocking of exonu 2 splicing	Afghan Hound
M3: c.556_571del16	p.Ala186ThrfsX69	Eurasier
M4: c.559_560dupGG	p.Arg188AlafsX73	Afghan Hound, Eurasier
M5: c.578C>T	p.Ala193Val	Akita, Siberian Husky, Samoyed

Long coat in Akitas in inherited in autosomal recessive trait.

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Possible results in M5 gene variant:

• N/N – the dog does not carry any variant specific for long hair – the dog has short hair
• N/M5 – the dog carries one copy of the variant gene – the dog is short-haired, but it can give birth to long-haired offsprings, if suitably crossed.
• M5/M5 – the dog is long-haired

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Reference:

Cadieu E, Neff M, Quignon P, Walsh K, Chase K, Parker HG, Vonholdt BM, Rhue A, Boyko A, Byers A, et al.: Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. 2009;326:150-153.

D. J. E. Housley, P. J. Venta: The long and the short of it: evidence that FGF5 is a major determinant of canine ‘hair'-itability, Animal Genetics, August 2006

C. Dierks, S. Mömke, U. Philipp and O. Distl: Allelic heterogeneity of FGF5 mutations causes the long-hair phenotype in dogs, Animal Genetics, 44, 425-431, 2013