-
Proceedings. Biological Sciences May 2018The role of parasites in shaping melanin-based colour polymorphism, and the consequences of colour polymorphism for disease resistance, remain debated. Here we review... (Review)
Review
The role of parasites in shaping melanin-based colour polymorphism, and the consequences of colour polymorphism for disease resistance, remain debated. Here we review recent evidence of the links between melanin-based coloration and the behavioural and immunological defences of vertebrates against their parasites. First we propose that (1) differences between colour morphs can result in variable exposure to parasites, either directly (certain colours might be more or less attractive to parasites) or indirectly (variations in behaviour and encounter probability). Once infected, we propose that (2) immune variation between differently coloured individuals might result in different abilities to cope with parasite infection. We then discuss (3) how these different abilities could translate into variable sexual and natural selection in environments varying in parasite pressure. Finally, we address (4) the potential role of parasites in the maintenance of melanin-based colour polymorphism, especially in the context of global change and multiple stressors in human-altered environments. Because global change will probably affect both coloration and the spread of parasitic diseases in the decades to come, future studies should take into account melanin-based coloration to better predict the evolutionary responses of animals to changing disease risk in human-altered environments.
Topics: Animals; Climate Change; Color; Host-Parasite Interactions; Melanins; Pigmentation; Vertebrates
PubMed: 29848644
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2018.0285 -
Annual Review of Genetics Nov 2023Vertebrates exhibit a wide range of color patterns, which play critical roles in mediating intra- and interspecific communication. Because of their diversity and visual... (Review)
Review
Vertebrates exhibit a wide range of color patterns, which play critical roles in mediating intra- and interspecific communication. Because of their diversity and visual accessibility, color patterns offer a unique and fascinating window into the processes underlying biological organization. In this review, we focus on describing many of the general principles governing the formation and evolution of color patterns in different vertebrate groups. We characterize the types of patterns, review the molecular and developmental mechanisms by which they originate, and discuss their role in constraining or facilitating evolutionary change. Lastly, we outline outstanding questions in the field and discuss different approaches that can be used to address them. Overall, we provide a unifying conceptual framework among vertebrate systems that may guide research into naturally evolved mechanisms underlying color pattern formation and evolution.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Pigmentation; Vertebrates
PubMed: 37487589
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genet-031423-120918 -
Current Opinion in Genetics &... Aug 2021Recent technical innovations are revealing surprising patterns in mollusc shell pigmentation, such as an unexpectedly modest role for melanins and rapid divergences in... (Review)
Review
Recent technical innovations are revealing surprising patterns in mollusc shell pigmentation, such as an unexpectedly modest role for melanins and rapid divergences in the mix of pigments used to achieve similar colour patterns. The elucidation of the molecular genetic basis of shell pigmentation has been slow, probably because of the high genome complexity of gastropods and bivalves. Recent work within the old field of evolutionary ecology of shell pigmentation allows a greater role for the analysis of large-geographic-scale patterns (sometimes employing citizen-science data), as well as experimental field studies. However, the field remains dominated by land snails as model organisms, while colour pattern evolution in marine gastropods and bivalves, particularly those not exposed to visual predators, remains mysterious.
Topics: Animal Shells; Animals; Biological Evolution; Bivalvia; Color; Ecology; Gastropoda; Phenotype; Pigmentation
PubMed: 33388521
DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2020.11.009 -
Integrative and Comparative Biology Oct 2021Melanins, the main pigments of the skin and hair in mammals, are synthesized within membrane-bound organelles of melanocytes called melanosomes. Melanosome structure and... (Review)
Review
Melanins, the main pigments of the skin and hair in mammals, are synthesized within membrane-bound organelles of melanocytes called melanosomes. Melanosome structure and function are determined by a cohort of resident transmembrane proteins, many of which are expressed only in pigment cells and localize specifically to melanosomes. Defects in the genes that encode melanosome-specific proteins or components of the machinery required for their transport in and out of melanosomes underlie various forms of ocular or oculocutaneous albinism, characterized by hypopigmentation of the hair, skin, and eyes and by visual impairment. We review major components of melanosomes, including the enzymes that catalyze steps in melanin synthesis from tyrosine precursors, solute transporters that allow these enzymes to function, and structural proteins that underlie melanosome shape and melanin deposition. We then review the molecular mechanisms by which these components are biosynthetically delivered to newly forming melanosomes-many of which are shared by other cell types that generate cell type-specific lysosome-related organelles. We also highlight unanswered questions that need to be addressed by future investigation.
Topics: Animals; Mammals; Melanins; Melanocytes; Melanosomes; Pigmentation
PubMed: 34021746
DOI: 10.1093/icb/icab078 -
International Journal of Biological... 2014Ultraviolet (UV) radiations alter a number of metabolic functions in vivant. They produce damages to lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, generating reactive oxygen... (Review)
Review
Ultraviolet (UV) radiations alter a number of metabolic functions in vivant. They produce damages to lipids, nucleic acids and proteins, generating reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen (O2), hydroxyl radical (HO) and superoxide anion (O2 (-)). Plants and animals, after their water emersion, have developed biochemical mechanisms to protect themselves from that environmental threat through a common strategy. Melanins in animals and flavonoids in plants are antioxidant pigments acting as free radical scavenging mechanisms. Both are phenol compounds constitutively synthesized and enhanced after exposure to UV rays, often conferring a red-brown-dark tissue pigmentation. Noteworthy, beside anti-oxidant scavenging activity, melanins and flavonoids have acquired secondary functions that, both in plants and animals, concern reproductions and fitness. Plants highly pigmented are more resistant to biotic and abiotic stresses. Darker wild vertebrates are generally more aggressive, sexually active and resistant to stress than lighter individuals. Flavonoids have been associated with signal attraction between flowers and insects and with plant-plant interaction. Melanin pigmentation has been proposed as trait in bird communication, acting as honest signals of quality. This review shows how the molecular mechanisms leading to tissue pigmentation have many functional analogies between plants and animals and how their origin lies in simpler organisms such as Cyanobacteria. Comparative studies between plant and animal kingdoms can reveal new insight of the antioxidant strategies in vivant.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Betalains; Biological Evolution; Flavonoids; Free Radical Scavengers; Genetic Fitness; Melanins; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Molecular Structure; Pigmentation; Plants; Reproduction; Ultraviolet Rays
PubMed: 25516714
DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.9672 -
The New Phytologist Aug 2020
Topics: Betalains; Caryophyllales; Dioxygenases; Levodopa; Pigmentation
PubMed: 31782527
DOI: 10.1111/nph.16295 -
Current Biology : CB Jan 2016Skelhorn et al. introduce eyespots the circular markings resembling vertebrate eyes found on many animals. (Review)
Review
Skelhorn et al. introduce eyespots the circular markings resembling vertebrate eyes found on many animals.
Topics: Animals; Biological Evolution; Butterflies; Eye; Humans; Pigmentation; Predatory Behavior; Wings, Animal
PubMed: 26811884
DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.10.024 -
Cell Reports Aug 2023Hanly et al. and Nishida et al. use distinct approaches to provide exceptional lessons regarding the genetic, molecular, morphological, and biochemical bases of...
Hanly et al. and Nishida et al. use distinct approaches to provide exceptional lessons regarding the genetic, molecular, morphological, and biochemical bases of butterfly wing pigmentation. These mechanistic insights collectively have important implications for our understanding of phenotype evolution.
Topics: Animals; Butterflies; Pigmentation; Phenotype
PubMed: 37594895
DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112981 -
Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research May 2019Over the past century, studies of human pigmentary disorders along with mouse and zebrafish models have shed light on the many cellular functions associated with visible... (Review)
Review
Over the past century, studies of human pigmentary disorders along with mouse and zebrafish models have shed light on the many cellular functions associated with visible pigment phenotypes. This has led to numerous genes annotated with the ontology term "pigmentation" in independent human, mouse, and zebrafish databases. Comparisons among these datasets revealed that each is individually incomplete in documenting all genes involved in integument-based pigmentation phenotypes. Additionally, each database contained inherent species-specific biases in data annotation, and the term "pigmentation" did not solely reflect integument pigmentation phenotypes. This review presents a comprehensive, cross-species list of 650 genes involved in pigmentation phenotypes that was compiled with extensive manual curation of genes annotated in OMIM, MGI, ZFIN, and GO. The resulting cross-species list of genes both intrinsic and extrinsic to integument pigment cells provides a valuable tool that can be used to expand our knowledge of complex, pigmentation-associated pathways.
Topics: Animals; Gene Regulatory Networks; Genes; Genetic Association Studies; Genomics; Humans; Mutation; Pigmentation; Polymorphism, Genetic
PubMed: 30339321
DOI: 10.1111/pcmr.12743 -
G3 (Bethesda, Md.) Dec 2023The US standard for maize commercially grown for grain specifies that yellow corn can contain at maximum 5% corn of other colors. Inbred parents of commercial hybrids...
The US standard for maize commercially grown for grain specifies that yellow corn can contain at maximum 5% corn of other colors. Inbred parents of commercial hybrids typically have clear pericarp, but transgressive segregants in breeding populations can display variation in pericarp pigmentation. We identified 10 doubled haploid biparental populations segregating for pigmented pericarp and evaluated qualitative genetic models using chi-square tests of observed and expected frequencies. Pigmentation ranged from light to dark brown color, and pigmentation intensity was quantitatively measured across 1,327 inbred lines using hue calculated from RGB pixel values. Genetic mapping was used to identify loci associated with pigmentation intensity. For 9 populations, pigmentation inheritance best fit a hypothesis of a 2- or 3-gene epistatic model. Significant differences in pigment intensity were observed across populations. W606S-derived inbred lines with the darkest pericarp often had clear glumes, suggesting the presence of a novel P1-rw allele, a hypothesis supported by a significant quantitative trait locus peak at P1. A separate quantitative trait locus region on chromosome 2 between 221.64 and 226.66 Mbp was identified in LH82-derived populations, and the peak near p1 was absent. A genome-wide association study using 416 inbred lines from the Wisconsin Diversity panel with full genome resequencing revealed 4 significant associations including the region near P1. This study supports that pericarp pigmentation among dent maize inbreds can arise by transgressive segregation when pigmentation in the parental generation is absent and is partially explained by functional allelic variation at the P1 locus.
Topics: Zea mays; Genes, Plant; Genome-Wide Association Study; Plant Breeding; Pigmentation
PubMed: 37950891
DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkad256