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Blumer MJ, Surapaneni VA, Ciecierska-Holmes J, Redl S, Pechriggl EJ, Mollen FH, Dean MN. Intermediate filaments spatially organize intracellular nanostructures to produce the bright structural blue of ribbontail stingrays across ontogeny. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1393237. [PMID: 39050893 PMCID: PMC11266302 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1393237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In animals, pigments but also nanostructures determine skin coloration, and many shades are produced by combining both mechanisms. Recently, we discovered a new mechanism for blue coloration in the ribbontail stingray Taeniura lymma, a species with electric blue spots on its yellow-brown skin. Here, we characterize finescale differences in cell composition and architecture distinguishing blue from non-blue regions, the first description of elasmobranch chromatophores and the nanostructures responsible for the stingray's novel structural blue, contrasting with other known mechanisms for making nature's rarest color. In blue regions, the upper dermis comprised a layer of chromatophore units -iridophores and melanophores entwined in compact clusters framed by collagen bundles- this structural stability perhaps the root of the skin color's robustness. Stingray iridophores were notably different from other vertebrate light-reflecting cells in having numerous fingerlike processes, which surrounded nearby melanophores like fists clenching a black stone. Iridophores contained spherical iridosomes enclosing guanine nanocrystals, suspended in a 3D quasi-order, linked by a cytoskeleton of intermediate filaments. We argue that intermediate filaments form a structural scaffold with a distinct optical role, providing the iridosome spacing critical to produce the blue color. In contrast, black-pigmented melanosomes within melanophores showed space-efficient packing, consistent with their hypothesized role as broadband-absorbers for enhancing blue color saturation. The chromatophore layer's ultrastructure was similar in juvenile and adult animals, indicating that skin color and perhaps its ecological role are likely consistent through ontogeny. In non-blue areas, iridophores were replaced by pale cells, resembling iridophores in some morphological and nanoscale features, but lacking guanine crystals, suggesting that the cell types arise from a common progenitor cell. The particular cellular associations and structural interactions we demonstrate in stingray skin suggest that pigment cells induce differentiation in the progenitor cells of iridophores, and that some features driving color production may be shared with bony fishes, although the lineages diverged hundreds of millions of years ago and the iridophores themselves differ drastically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Blumer
- Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Venkata A. Surapaneni
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jana Ciecierska-Holmes
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Redl
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Elisabeth J. Pechriggl
- Institute of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Mason N. Dean
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Department of Biomaterials, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany
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Judan Cruz KG, Landingin EP, Gajeton MB, Fernando SID, Watanabe K. Carotenoid coloration and coloration-linked gene expression in red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) tissues. BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:314. [PMID: 34563199 PMCID: PMC8466994 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03006-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Production, marketability and consumer preference of red tilapia often depends upon the intensity of coloration. Hence, new approaches to develop coloration are now geared to improve market acceptability and profit. This study evaluated the effects of carotenoid-rich diets on the phenotypic coloration, carotenoid level, weight gain and expression of coloration-linked genes in skin, fin and muscle tissues. Carotenoids were extracted from dried Daucus carota peel, Ipomoea aquatica leaves, and Moringa oleifera leaves. Eighty (80) size-14 fish were fed with carotenoid-rich treatments twice a day for 120 days. The phenotypic effect of the carotenoid extracts was measured through a color chart. Skin carotenoid level was measured through UV-vis spectrophotometer. csf1ra, Bcdo2 and StAR expression analysis was done using qRT-PCR. Results Treatments with carotenoid extracts yielded higher overall scores on phenotypic coloration and tissue carotenoid levels. Differential expression of carotenoid-linked genes such as the elevated expression in csf1ra and lower expression in Bcdo2b following supplementation of the enhanced diet supports the phenotypic redness and increased carotenoid values in red tilapia fed with D. carota peel and I. aquatica leaves. Conclusions Overall improvement in the redness of the tilapia was achieved through the supplementation of carotenoid-rich diet derived from readily available plants. Differential expression of coloration-linked genes supports the increase in the intensity of phenotypic coloration and level of carotenoids in the tissues. The study emphasizes the importance of carotenoids in the commercial tilapia industry and highlights the potential of the plant extracts for integration and development of feeds for color enhancement in red tilapia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khristina G Judan Cruz
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Science City of Munoz, Philippines.
| | - Ervee P Landingin
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Science City of Munoz, Philippines
| | - Maureen B Gajeton
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Science City of Munoz, Philippines
| | - Somar Israel D Fernando
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Central Luzon State University, Nueva Ecija, Science City of Munoz, Philippines
| | - Kozo Watanabe
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 3, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan.,Center for Marine Environmental Studies (CMES), Ehime University, Bunkyo-cho 2-5, Matsuyama, Ehime, 790-8577, Japan
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Brejcha J, kodejš K, Benda P, Jablonski D, Holer T, Chmelař J, Moravec J. Variability of colour pattern and genetic diversity of Salamandra salamandra (Caudata: Salamandridae) in the Czech Republic. JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.25225/jvb.21016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jindřich Brejcha
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Praha-Horní Počernice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Karel kodejš
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Praha-Horní Počernice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
| | - Pavel Benda
- Bohemian Switzerland National Park, Krásná Lípa, Czech Republic
| | - Daniel Jablonski
- Department of Zoology, Comenius University in Bratislava, Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Tomáš Holer
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Praha-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Chmelař
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Jiří Moravec
- Department of Zoology, National Museum, Praha-Horní Počernice, Czech Republic; e-mail:
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Sanchez E, Pröhl H, Lüddecke T, Schulz S, Steinfartz S, Vences M. The conspicuous postmetamorphic coloration of fire salamanders, but not their toxicity, is affected by larval background albedo. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2019; 332:26-35. [DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.22845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eugenia Sanchez
- Department of Life Sciences, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweig Germany
| | - Heike Pröhl
- The University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover Foundation does not have departments, only clinics, institutes and special units, Institute of Zoology, Tierärztliche Hochschule HannoverHannover Germany
| | - Tim Lüddecke
- Department of Life Sciences, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweig Germany
- LOEWE Centre for Translational Biodiversity Genomics, Animal Venomics Research Group, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied EcologyGießen Germany
| | - Stefan Schulz
- Department of Life Sciences, Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweig Germany
| | - Sebastian Steinfartz
- Department of Life Sciences, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweig Germany
| | - Miguel Vences
- Department of Life Sciences, Zoological Institute, Technische Universität BraunschweigBraunschweig Germany
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Darias MJ, Andree KB, Boglino A, Fernández I, Estévez A, Gisbert E. Coordinated regulation of chromatophore differentiation and melanogenesis during the ontogeny of skin pigmentation of Solea senegalensis (Kaup, 1858). PLoS One 2013; 8:e63005. [PMID: 23671650 PMCID: PMC3650040 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0063005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Accepted: 03/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal pigmentation of Senegalese sole has been described as one problem facing the full exploitation of its commercial production. To improve our understanding of flatfish pigmentation of this commercially important species we have evaluated eleven genes related to two different processes of pigmentation: melanophore differentiation, and melanin production. The temporal distribution of gene expression peaks corresponds well with changes in pigmentation patterns and the intensity of skin melanization. Several gene ratios were also examined to put in perspective possible genetic markers for the different stages of normal pigmentation development. Further, the phenotypic changes that occur during morphogenesis correspond well with the main transitions in gene expression that occur. Given the dramatic phenotypic alterations which flatfish undergo, including the asymmetric coloration that occurs between the ocular and the blind side, and the synchrony of the two processes of morphogenesis and pigmentation ontogenesis, these species constitute an interesting model for the study of pigmentation. In this study we present a first approximation towards explaining the genetic mechanisms for regulating pigmentation ontogeny in Senegalese sole, Solea senegalensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria J Darias
- Centre de Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Unitat de Cultius Experimentals, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Sant Carles de la Ràpita, Catalònia, Spain.
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Zakharova LA, Surova GS, Timofeev KN. Specific features of the melanophore system in different color morphs of larvae of the common toad (Bufo bufo L.). BIOL BULL+ 2012. [DOI: 10.1134/s1062359012030144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Bonato L, Steinfartz S. Evolution of the melanistic colour in the Alpine salamanderSalamandra atraas revealed by a new subspecies from the Venetian Prealps. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1080/11250000509356680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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