Pseudogene of MC1R in Indian ringneck parrots?
Little is known of the molecular genetics of feather colour in parrots. The bright reds and yellows of parrots are due to psitticofulvins, pigments unique to parrots, but for which there is only rudimentary biochemical and no genetic information available. Melanin also contributes to the feather colour of parrots and the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is critical in the melanin production pathway. In this study, we obtained partial MC1R sequences for nine Indian ringneck (Psittacula krameri) parrots, identifying six different alleles. One of these alleles was highly divergent, differing from other alleles by 10.6%. It also had a stop codon, indicating that it is a non-functional allele. There was no other apparent association between colour and MC1R alleles. MC1R partial sequences were also obtained in five other parrot species (peachfaced lovebird, Agapornis roseicollis; budgerigar,Melopsittacus undulatus; scaly breasted lorikeet, Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus; green cheeked conure, Pyrrhura molinae; cockatiel, Nymphicus hollandicus). The cockatiel was the most divergent of these species, as expected from previous studies. The divergent Indian ringneck allele fell outside all other parrot sequences on a Neighbour Joining phylogenetic tree.