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Developmental and comparative transcriptomic identification of iridophore contribution to white barring in clownfish
Author(s) -
Salis Pauline,
Lorin Thibault,
Lewis Victor,
Rey Carine,
Marcionetti Anna,
Escande MarieLine,
Roux Natacha,
Besseau Laurence,
Salamin Nicolas,
Sémon Marie,
Parichy David,
Volff JeanNicolas,
Laudet Vincent
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
pigment cell and melanoma research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.618
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1755-148X
pISSN - 1755-1471
DOI - 10.1111/pcmr.12766
Subject(s) - chromatophore , zebrafish , biology , white (mutation) , tunicate , genetics , evolutionary biology , gene , microbiology and biotechnology , ecology
Actinopterygian fishes harbor at least eight distinct pigment cell types, leading to a fascinating diversity of colors. Among this diversity, the cellular origin of the white color appears to be linked to several pigment cell types such as iridophores or leucophores. We used the clownfish Amphiprion ocellaris , which has a color pattern consisting of white bars over a darker body, to characterize the pigment cells that underlie the white hue. We observe by electron microscopy that cells in white bars are similar to iridophores. In addition, the transcriptomic signature of clownfish white bars exhibits similarities with that of zebrafish iridophores. We further show by pharmacological treatments that these cells are necessary for the white color. Among the top differentially expressed genes in white skin, we identified several genes ( fhl2a , fhl2b , saiyan , gpnmb , and apoD1a ) and show that three of them are expressed in iridophores. Finally, we show by CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis that these genes are critical for iridophore development in zebrafish. Our analyses provide clues to the genomic underpinning of color diversity and allow identification of new iridophore genes in fish.