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Animal Biotechnology Aug 2021The Manila clam, , is an ecologically and economically important marine bivalve species. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic sequencing of two different shell...
The Manila clam, , is an ecologically and economically important marine bivalve species. In this study, we conducted transcriptomic sequencing of two different shell color strains (O and Z) before color appearance (uncolored juvenile clam) and pigmented shell color (colored juvenile clam) and investigated the analysis of the differential expression patterns of specific genes associated with pigmentation by RNA-seq and time course qPCR analysis. The transcription level of 16 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related with shell color was analyzed by qRT-PCR to validate the performance of RNA-seq from Illumina sequence data where most of them were up-regulated. Two genes were down-regulated after the occurrence of zebra clam stripes compared with uncolored zebra clam. The trend of gene expression obtained by qPCR was basically consistent with that of RNA-seq. The synthesis of melanin in bivalves plays potential roles in the pigmentation of the shell and is closely related to the formation of the surface pattern. The porphyrin metabolism combined with tyrosinase and melanogenesis signaling pathway is a novel finding in shell color determination of . This study sheds light on the pigmentation and coloration mechanism of the Manila clam.
Topics: Animal Shells; Animals; Bivalvia; Gene Expression Profiling; Pigmentation; Transcriptome
PubMed: 31967493
DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2020.1714635 -
PloS One 2019Trichophyton rubrum is a human pathogenic fungus. As a dermatophyte it causes athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, jock itch and ringworm. The pigmentation of T....
Trichophyton rubrum is a human pathogenic fungus. As a dermatophyte it causes athlete's foot, fungal infection of nails, jock itch and ringworm. The pigmentation of T. rubrum is variable and can range from white or yellow to wine-red. We demonstrate that the pigmentation is strongly influenced by pH. Under alkaline conditions, T. rubrum has a red pigmentation, whereas at acid conditions, T. rubrum has a yellow pigmentation. Moreover, the color change immediately from yellow to red by adding NaOH and reverse immediately from red to yellow by adding HCl. We suggest that the chemical compound Xanthomegnin is responsible for red as well for yellow pigmentation in T. rubrum. To figure out, why T. rubrum has red pigmentation on Trichophyton medium, adjust to alkaline, but not on Synthetic-Complete medium, also adjusted to alkaline, we measure the pH of liquid media, adjusted to pH 3.5, 6 and 8, over a period of four weeks. The pH of both cultivation media changes significantly, with a maximum of five pH levels. Whereas the Trichophyton medium, initially adjusted to pH 8, stays alkaline, the pH of the Synthetic-Complete medium drops to acid conditions. The acidification of the SC medium and the alkalization of the Trichophyton medium explains the different pigment color of the T. rubrum colonies.
Topics: Culture Media; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Naphthoquinones; Pigmentation; Pigments, Biological; Trichophyton
PubMed: 31504066
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0222333 -
Journal of Chromatography. B,... Feb 2023Carotenoid pigmentation in salmon may interfere with the accuracy of antibiotic analysis with ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem spectrometry...
Effects of carotenoid pigmentation in salmon on antibiotic extraction recovery, matrix effects and accuracy of quantification by ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.
Carotenoid pigmentation in salmon may interfere with the accuracy of antibiotic analysis with ultra-high pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) by causing matrix effects or affecting the recovery of compounds during extraction. In the present study, we used both pigmented and non-pigmented salmon to understand the role pigments play on antibiotic analysis, and tested whether clean-up of the extract with dispersive solid phase extraction (dSPE) or hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) SPE clean-up reduces matrix effects. Thirty antibiotics and their respective class-specific surrogate standards were measured in Sockeye (pigmented), King (pigmented) and Ivory King (non-pigmented) salmon extracted using the QUEChERS method, or a modified QUEChERS method involving dSPE or HLB SPE clean-up (for Sockeye salmon only). Significant matrix effects and lower percent recoveries of spiked antibiotics were observed in pigmented versus non-pigmented salmon extracted with the QUEChERS method. Dispersive SPE clean-up did not improve extraction recoveries or matrix effects. However, SPE clean-up with HLB columns improved matrix effects for several antibiotics but reduced the percent recovery to < 30%. Across all types of salmon analyzed, the accuracy of quantitation was minimally impacted, likely due to similar behavior of the surrogate standards tagged to each antibiotic class during extraction. Our results demonstrate that carotenoids in salmon are associated with significant matrix effects and low extraction recoveries, but do not impact accuracy.
Topics: Animals; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Chromatography, Liquid; Salmon; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Pigmentation; Solid Phase Extraction
PubMed: 36669255
DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2022.123585 -
Developmental Dynamics : An Official... Nov 2019Convergent phenotypic evolution has been widely documented across timescales, from populations, to species, to major lineages. The extent to which convergent phenotypes...
BACKGROUND
Convergent phenotypic evolution has been widely documented across timescales, from populations, to species, to major lineages. The extent to which convergent phenotypes arise from convergent genetic and developmental mechanisms remains an open question, although studies to-date reveal examples of both similar and different underlying mechanisms. This variation likely relates to a range of factors, including the genetic architecture of the trait and selective filtering of mutations over time. Here we focus on floral pigmentation, and examine the degree of developmental convergence between white-flowered lineages and white morphs within pigmented species.
RESULTS
Using the model clade Iochrominae, we find that white morphs and white-flowered species are biochemically convergent, sharing an absence of colorful anthocyanin pigments. Regression analyses suggest that the expression levels of upstream genes are the strongest drivers of total pigmentation across species, although white species also show sharp down-regulation of the downstream genes. The white morphs do not share this pattern and present overall expression profiles more similar to the pigmented species.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the mechanisms underlying variation within populations differ from those which give rise to fixed differences between species. Future work will aim to uncover the genetic changes responsible for this developmental non-convergence.
Topics: Anthocyanins; Flowers; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Mutation; Pigmentation; Plant Development; Quantitative Trait Loci; Species Specificity
PubMed: 31269317
DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.82 -
Pigment Cell Research Dec 2000Pigment mutations in inbred mice have been important to many new scientific developments over the past century. Inbred mice are essentially genetically alike because of... (Review)
Review
Pigment mutations in inbred mice have been important to many new scientific developments over the past century. Inbred mice are essentially genetically alike because of 10-20 generations or more of sibling mating or the equivalent. Mice of the same inbred strain that differ at only one locus can be used to evaluate the phenotypic effects of that one locus without complication of variation at other loci. Similarly, genic interactions among the functions of two or more loci are evaluated by comparing them in all combinations against a uniform genetic background. The next logical step in describing the pigment system will occur when all pigment cell biologists who use mice (cells, tissues, DNA, RNA) make certain that their mice are congenic with C57BL/6J. As a result, the work of all investigators will be genetically comparable. Their work will also be comparable to those investigating other organ systems, because NIH has chosen C57BL/6J as one of its two standard strains. As a result of this standardization, interactions among the different gene loci that function in the pigment system will become more readily evident and the community of pigment cell biologists using congenic mice will be able to analyze the functional interplay of loci that regulate the entire pigment system in the same way that earlier researchers analyzed one mutant allele, or the interactions of two mutant loci.
Topics: Alleles; Animals; Chromosome Mapping; Crosses, Genetic; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred Strains; Mice, Knockout; Mice, Transgenic; Mutation; National Institutes of Health (U.S.); Phenotype; Pigmentation; Research Design; United States
PubMed: 11153693
DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2000.130603.x -
Development, Growth & Differentiation Dec 2023Amphibians generally have three types of pigment cells, namely, melanophores (black and brown), xanthophores (yellow and red), and iridophores (iridescent). Single...
Amphibians generally have three types of pigment cells, namely, melanophores (black and brown), xanthophores (yellow and red), and iridophores (iridescent). Single knockout of the tyr, slc2a7, and hps6 genes in Xenopus tropicalis results in the absence of melanophores, xanthophores, and iridophores, respectively. The generation of triple- knockout (3KO) X. tropicalis for these three genes could allow for observation of internal organs without sacrificing the animals, which would be transparent due to the absence of pigments. In this study, we generated 3KO X. tropicalis, which is one of the most widely used model amphibians, through crossing of a slc2a7 single-knockout frog with a tyr and hps6 double-knockout frog, followed by intercrossing of their offspring. The 3KO tadpoles had transparent bodies like the nop mutant and the frogs had translucent bodies. This translucency allowed us to observe the heart, lungs, stomach, liver, and digestive tract through the ventral body skin without surgery. After intravital staining, 3KO X. tropicalis showed much clearer fluorescent signals of mineralized tissues compared with the wild type. These 3KO X. tropicalis provide a useful mutant line for continuous observation of internal organs and fluorescent signals in the body. In particular, such 3KO frogs would revolutionize fluorescence monitoring in transgenic tadpoles and frogs expressing fluorescent proteins.
Topics: Animals; Xenopus; Xenopus laevis; Pigmentation; Melanophores; Skin; Anura
PubMed: 37750430
DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12891 -
Plant Biotechnology Journal Jul 2020Pigment glands, also known as black glands or gossypol glands, are specific for Gossypium spp. These glands strictly confine large amounts of secondary metabolites to...
Pigment glands, also known as black glands or gossypol glands, are specific for Gossypium spp. These glands strictly confine large amounts of secondary metabolites to the lysigenous cavity, leading to the glands' intense colour and providing defence against pests and pathogens. This study performed a comparative transcriptome analysis of glanded versus glandless cotton cultivars. Twenty-two transcription factors showed expression patterns associated with pigment glands and were characterized. Phenotypic screening of the genes, via virus-induced gene silencing, showed an apparent disappearance of pigmented glands after the silencing of a pair of homologous MYB-encoding genes in the A and D genomes (designated as CGP1). Further study showed that CGP1a encodes an active transcription factor, which is specifically expressed in the gland structure, while CGP1d encodes a non-functional protein due to a fragment deletion, which causes premature termination. RNAi-mediated silencing and CRISPR knockout of CGP1 in glanded cotton cultivars generated a glandless-like phenotype, similar to the dominant glandless mutant Gl . Microscopic analysis showed that CGP1 knockout did not affect gland structure or density, but affected gland pigmentation. The levels of gossypol and related terpenoids were significantly decreased in cgp1 mutants, and a number of gossypol biosynthetic genes were strongly down-regulated. CGP1 is located in the nucleus where it interacts with GoPGF, a critical transcription factor for gland development and gossypol synthesis. Our data suggest that CGP1 and GoPGF form heterodimers to control the synthesis of gossypol and other secondary metabolites in cotton.
Topics: Gene Expression Profiling; Gossypium; Gossypol; Pigmentation; Transcription Factors
PubMed: 31883409
DOI: 10.1111/pbi.13323 -
PloS One 2018Attributes such as sex, age and pigmentation of individuals could correspond to the competitive skills they use to access resources and, consequently, determine their...
Attributes such as sex, age and pigmentation of individuals could correspond to the competitive skills they use to access resources and, consequently, determine their social status when a hierarchy of dominance is established. We analysed patterns of social dominance in relation to sex, age and, for the first time, according to face pigmentation in a large scavenger bird species, the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus). This species displays extreme sexual dimorphism, with males being up to 50% heavier than females. Associated to this, strong hierarchical relationships characterize foraging, roosting and breeding. We recorded agonistic interactions within condor groups while foraging through video recordings in experimental stations. We corroborated a strong despotism by the adult males to the rest of the categories. More interestingly we found this despotism was also expressed by most pigmented birds; juvenile females being completely subordinated and, at the same time, not expressing pigmentation. Importantly, when condors of equal sex and age category fought, the more pigmented individuals were successful. Our results highlight that pigmentation, besides sex and age, is an attribute that also corresponds with social status in the Andean condor, making its hierarchical system more complex.
Topics: Animals; Birds; Female; Hierarchy, Social; Male; Pigmentation; Sex Characteristics; Social Dominance; Video Recording
PubMed: 30356333
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205197 -
Pigment Cell Research Apr 2000More than 90 different loci influence pigmentation in the mouse. During the past few years, an increasing number of genes have been identified, and assigned to the... (Review)
Review
More than 90 different loci influence pigmentation in the mouse. During the past few years, an increasing number of genes have been identified, and assigned to the corresponding coat color loci and pigmentation mutants. As a consequence, different names have been used in publications for loci, genes and corresponding proteins. In the following article, we present the rules and guidelines for gene nomenclature, and provide the current nomenclature for pigmentation mutants in the mouse.
Topics: Animals; Hair Color; Mice; Mutation; Pigments, Biological; Terminology as Topic
PubMed: 10841027
DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0749.2000.130204.x -
Dermatologic Clinics Apr 2001When approaching a pigmented lesion with dermoscopy, the entire architecture of the lesion should be considered. The presence of certain pigment patterns, structural... (Review)
Review
When approaching a pigmented lesion with dermoscopy, the entire architecture of the lesion should be considered. The presence of certain pigment patterns, structural patterns, or border characteristic alone are insufficient to make the most accurate diagnosis. Because pigmented lesions are dynamic and have many variations in their patterns, there can exist no exact defining classifications among each type of pigmented lesion.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Nevus, Pigmented; Skin Neoplasms; Skin Pigmentation
PubMed: 11556234
DOI: 10.1016/s0733-8635(05)70263-1