> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://equinecolors.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # MATP gene - URL: https://equinecolors.com/matp-gene/ - Published: 2025-11-17T14:10:32.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-10T10:37:33.000Z - Description: The MATP gene is responsible for the dilutions cream, pearl, sunshine and snowdrop in horses. - Author: Hannelore Roodhooft - Tags: Genetics, Dilutions, MATP, #Import 2026-08-12 09:42 The **MATP** (membrane-associated transporter protein) gene, or **SLC45A2**, is a dilution [gene](https://equinecolors.com/dictionary/#:~:text=in%20each%20pair.-,Gene,-A%20gene%20is) in horses. ## Alleles The MATP gene has five currently known [alleles](https://equinecolors.com/dictionary/#:~:text=the%20DNA%20sequence-,Alleles,-Different%20versions%20of). The **CR-allele (cream)** is [incomplete dominant](https://equinecolors.com/dictionary/#:~:text=e%20is%20different.-,Incomplete%20Dominant,-One%20allele%20does). One copy dilutes red pigment, while black is not or only very slightly affected. Two copies of cream strongly dilute both red and black pigment, leading to a cream colored horse. The **prl-allele (pearl)** is [recessive](https://equinecolors.com/dictionary/#:~:text=Recessive%20Allele%20%28written%20in%20lowercase%20letters%29) and dilutes the coat color to an apricot-like color. Pearl and cream also interact with each other (CR/prl) and produce pseudo-double cream dilutes. The **sun-allele (sunshine)** is recessive. Similar to pearl, CR/sun produces pseudo-double cream dilutes. Two copies of sunshine are expected to lead to a lighter coat, with lighter skin and eyes. The **sno-allele (snowdrop)** is recessive. It strongly dilutes both black and red pigment. The wild-type **n-allele** leads to the production of normal amounts of pigment. | **MATP** | **Color** | | ----------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- | | **CR/n** | Palomino, smoky black, buckskin | | **CR/CR** | Cremello, smoky cream, perlino | | **prl/n** | Not diluted | | **prl/prl** | Chestnut pearl, black pearl, bay pearl | | **CR/prl** | Palomino pearl, smoky black pearl, buckskin pearl | | **sun/n** | Not diluted | | **CR/sun** | Palomino sunshine, smoky black sunshine, buckskin sunshine | | **sno/n** | Not diluted | | **sno/sno** | Chestnut snowdrop, black snowdrop, bay snowdrop | | **n/n** | Not diluted | ## Mehanisms Pigment cells, called **melanocytes**, produce the pigments in the hair and skin of horses. The production of pigments can be influenced at different stages, changing the **type (black or red)** or the **amount (dilutions/ white patterns)** of pigment that is made. ![CTA Image](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/2025/12/Equinecolors_Icon_DNA1-19.png) The production of black and red pigment involves several different steps. Some of these steps are shared between the two, and some are unique to each pigment type. This is why certain genes will affect all base colors, while others only affect either red or black pigment: they affect different steps. ### MATP Inside the melanocytes are subunits, or organelles, called melanosomes. Pigment production takes place inside these melanosomes. The MATP gene codes for a protein that regulates the pH of melanosomes. Hereby, MATP can influence the first step of pigment production. Changes in the MATP protein can lead to differences in pigmentation and result in diluted coat colors in a variety of species. | **Alleles** | **Mutation** | **Effect** | | ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------- | | CR | [Point mutation](https://equinecolors.com/genetics-2-alleles/#:~:text=%F0%9F%A7%AC-,Types%20of%20mutations%3A,-Point%20mutation%3A%20One)/ substitution (c.457 G => A)[missense mutation](https://equinecolors.com/genetics-2-alleles/#:~:text=%F0%9F%A7%AC-,Types%20of%20mutations%3A,-Silent%20mutation%3A%20No) | Diluted pigment | | prl | Point mutation/ substitution (c.985 G => A)missense mutation | Diluted pigment, mottling | | sun | Point mutation/ substitution (c.985 G => A)missense mutation | Diluted pigment | | sno | Point mutation/ substitution (c.568 G => A)missense mutation | Diluted pigment | | n | / | Diluted pigment | ## Colors [CreamCream is a dilution, located on the same gene as pearl, sunshine and snowdrop. It lightens the base coat of horses and leads to the colors palomino, buckskin, smoky black, cremello, perlino and smoky cream.![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/icon/favicon-60.ico)Equine ColorsHannelore Roodhooft![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/thumbnail/cream-5.png)](https://equinecolors.com/cream/) [PearlPearl is a dilution, located on the same gene as cream, sunshine and snowdrop. It lightens the base coat of horses and creates the colors chestnut pearl, black pearl and bay pearl.![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/icon/favicon-68.ico)Equine ColorsHannelore Roodhooft![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/thumbnail/pearl-2.png)](https://equinecolors.com/pearl/) [SunshineSunshine is a dilution, located on the same gene as cream, pearl and snowdrop. It lightens the base coat of horses when combined with cream.![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/icon/favicon-113.ico)Equine ColorsHannelore Roodhooft![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/thumbnail/template-2.png)](https://equinecolors.com/sunshine/) [SnowdropSnowdrop is a dilution, located on the same gene as cream, pearl and sunshine. It lightens the base coat of horses.![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/icon/favicon-114.ico)Equine ColorsHannelore Roodhooft![](https://equinecolors.com/content/images/thumbnail/template-1-1.png)](https://equinecolors.com/snowdrop/) **Read more:** [Color genes](https://equinecolors.com/color-genes/) | [TBX3 gene](https://equinecolors.com/tbx3-gene/) [Back to Dilutions](https://equinecolors.com/dilutions/) ## Articles 1. Locke, M. M., Ruth, L. S., Millon, L .V., Penedo, M. C. T., Murray, J. D., & Bowling, A. T.; ***The cream dilution gene, responsible for the palomino and buckskin coat colours, maps to horse chromosome 21***. Animal Genetics (2001); doi: [10.1046/j.1365-2052.2001.00806.x](https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2052.2001.00806.x?ref=equinecolors.com) 2. Mariat, D., Taourit, S., & Guérin, G.; ***A mutation in the MATP gene causes the cream coat colour in the horse.*** Genetics Selection Evolution (2003); doi: [10.1051/gse:2002039](https://doi.org/10.1051/gse:2002039?ref=equinecolors.com) 3. Sevane, N., Sanz, C.R., Dunner, S., Sevane, N., Sanz, C.R., Dunner, S.; ***Explicit evidence for a missense mutation in exon 4 of SLC45A2 gene causing the pearl coat dilution in horses*;** Animal Genetics (2019); Doi: [10.1111/age.12784](http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/age.12784?ref=equinecolors.com)