Essentially the p mutation or the lutino gene removes all black pigment from the coat and eyes. Thats why their eyes look reddish. They come in any coat color but again the lutino gene changes the appearance. For example a Black rabbit looks like a pinkish grayish color and a Castor looks Red and so forth. Its a pretty neat gene and I've been trying to make a Lutino Mini Rex.
For a more technical explanation....
The lutino coloration is called a "p mutation" because of an integral membrane p protein. The p-protein appears to be a transporter, however for exactly what remains unknown. Because high levels of tyrosine induce pigmentation in the eye’s melanocytes it would suggest this p protein plays a role in tyrosine transport.
It does not only affect the eye but coat color as well. It is recessive (so P is normal and p is the mutation) and a rabbit that is pp will have the pink eyes and also the fur color changes. In a sense, this mutation causes an effect similar to the non-extension gene, just to a less degree and with the addition of the pink eyes. This is due to the decreased production of eumelanin with yet little effect on pheomelanin.
While there could be different variants, the basic orange colored lutinos are genetically A_B_C_D_eepp. Cream colored lutinos (called “Shadow”) and are genetically A_B_C_D_E_pp. The p mutation can create other colors with different base genotypes. This is not a "new" mutation. It is the one of the more common forms of albinism. The official name is type II oculocutaneous albinism. It is a Tyrosinase positive form. In mice, the protein product of this p locus’ first intraluminal loop was studied back in 1994.
In mice, William Castle wrote about it in 1909.
So as one can see, this has been a long studied mutation. However, we still have a lot to learn about exactly what this transport protein does and the exact mechanism by which it works.
1. Rosemblat, Susana. et al. Identification of a melanosomal membrane protein encoded by the pink-eyed dilution (type II oculocutaneous
albinism) gene. PNAS. December 1994; 91: 12071-12075.
2. Russell, ES.Genetics 34: 146 March 1949
3. Castle, WE. The Peculiar Inheritance of Pink Eyes Among Colored Mice.Science. 3 September 1909; 30(766): 313-314.
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lu·ti·no
/lo͞oˈtēnō/
: early 20th century: from Latin luteus ‘yellow’ + -ino, on the pattern of albino .
It does not only affect the eye but coat color as well. It is recessive (so P is normal and p is the mutation) and a rabbit that is pp will have the pink eyes and also the fur color changes. In a sense, this mutation causes an effect similar to the non-extension gene, just to a less degree and with the addition of the pink eyes. This is due to the decreased production of eumelanin with yet little effect on pheomelanin.
While there could be different variants, the basic orange colored lutinos are genetically A_B_C_D_eepp. Cream colored lutinos (called “Shadow”) and are genetically A_B_C_D_E_pp. The p mutation can create other colors with different base genotypes. This is not a "new" mutation. It is the one of the more common forms of albinism. The official name is type II oculocutaneous albinism. It is a Tyrosinase positive form. In mice, the protein product of this p locus’ first intraluminal loop was studied back in 1994.
In mice, William Castle wrote about it in 1909.
So as one can see, this has been a long studied mutation. However, we still have a lot to learn about exactly what this transport protein does and the exact mechanism by which it works.
1. Rosemblat, Susana. et al. Identification of a melanosomal membrane protein encoded by the pink-eyed dilution (type II oculocutaneous
albinism) gene. PNAS. December 1994; 91: 12071-12075.
2. Russell, ES.Genetics 34: 146 March 1949
3. Castle, WE. The Peculiar Inheritance of Pink Eyes Among Colored Mice.Science. 3 September 1909; 30(766): 313-314.
--------------------------------------------------
lu·ti·no
/lo͞oˈtēnō/
: early 20th century: from Latin luteus ‘yellow’ + -ino, on the pattern of albino .