Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish
Melanin is the most prevalent pigment in animals. Its synthesis involves a series of functional genes. Particularly, teleosts have more copies of these genes related to the melanin synthesis than tetrapods. Despite the increasing number of available vertebrate genomes, a few systematically genomic s...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Genetics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.707228/full |
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| author | Chao Bian Chao Bian Chao Bian Ruihan Li Ruihan Li Zhengyong Wen Zhengyong Wen Wei Ge Qiong Shi Qiong Shi |
| author_facet | Chao Bian Chao Bian Chao Bian Ruihan Li Ruihan Li Zhengyong Wen Zhengyong Wen Wei Ge Qiong Shi Qiong Shi |
| author_sort | Chao Bian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Melanin is the most prevalent pigment in animals. Its synthesis involves a series of functional genes. Particularly, teleosts have more copies of these genes related to the melanin synthesis than tetrapods. Despite the increasing number of available vertebrate genomes, a few systematically genomic studies were reported to identify and compare these core genes for the melanin synthesis. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis on several core genes, including tyrosinase genes (tyr, tyrp1, and tyrp2), premelanosome protein (pmel), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (mitf), and solute carrier family 24 member 5 (slc24a5), based on 90 representative vertebrate genomes. Gene number and mutation identification suggest that loss-of-function mutations in these core genes may interact to generate an albinism phenotype. We found nonsense mutations in tyrp1a and pmelb of an albino golden-line barbel fish, in pmelb of an albino deep-sea snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei), in slc24a5 of cave-restricted Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus, cavefish population), and in mitf of a transparent icefish (Protosalanx hyalocranius). Convergent evolution may explain this phenomenon since nonsense mutations in these core genes for melanin synthesis have been identified across diverse albino fishes. These newly identified nonsense mutations and gene loss will provide molecular guidance for ornamental fish breeding, further enhancing our in-depth understanding of human skin coloration. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:53:00Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-8021 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T12:53:00Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Genetics |
| spelling | doaj.art-d6a43b3e7cfd4f2f9684f34a30b321342022-12-21T22:31:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Genetics1664-80212021-08-011210.3389/fgene.2021.707228707228Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in FishChao Bian0Chao Bian1Chao Bian2Ruihan Li3Ruihan Li4Zhengyong Wen5Zhengyong Wen6Wei Ge7Qiong Shi8Qiong Shi9Faculty of Health Sciences, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, University of Macau, Taipa, ChinaShenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaShenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaFaculty of Health Sciences, Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, University of Macau, Taipa, ChinaShenzhen Key Lab of Marine Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Molecular Breeding in Marine Economic Animals, Beijing Genomics Institute, BGI Academy of Marine Sciences, BGI Marine, Shenzhen, ChinaCollege of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaMelanin is the most prevalent pigment in animals. Its synthesis involves a series of functional genes. Particularly, teleosts have more copies of these genes related to the melanin synthesis than tetrapods. Despite the increasing number of available vertebrate genomes, a few systematically genomic studies were reported to identify and compare these core genes for the melanin synthesis. Here, we performed a comparative genomic analysis on several core genes, including tyrosinase genes (tyr, tyrp1, and tyrp2), premelanosome protein (pmel), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (mitf), and solute carrier family 24 member 5 (slc24a5), based on 90 representative vertebrate genomes. Gene number and mutation identification suggest that loss-of-function mutations in these core genes may interact to generate an albinism phenotype. We found nonsense mutations in tyrp1a and pmelb of an albino golden-line barbel fish, in pmelb of an albino deep-sea snailfish (Pseudoliparis swirei), in slc24a5 of cave-restricted Mexican tetra (Astyanax mexicanus, cavefish population), and in mitf of a transparent icefish (Protosalanx hyalocranius). Convergent evolution may explain this phenomenon since nonsense mutations in these core genes for melanin synthesis have been identified across diverse albino fishes. These newly identified nonsense mutations and gene loss will provide molecular guidance for ornamental fish breeding, further enhancing our in-depth understanding of human skin coloration.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.707228/fullmelanin synthesis pathwaycore genes for melanin synthesisalbinism phenotypenonsense mutationphylogenetic analysis |
| spellingShingle | Chao Bian Chao Bian Chao Bian Ruihan Li Ruihan Li Zhengyong Wen Zhengyong Wen Wei Ge Qiong Shi Qiong Shi Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish Frontiers in Genetics melanin synthesis pathway core genes for melanin synthesis albinism phenotype nonsense mutation phylogenetic analysis |
| title | Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish |
| title_full | Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish |
| title_fullStr | Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish |
| title_short | Phylogenetic Analysis of Core Melanin Synthesis Genes Provides Novel Insights Into the Molecular Basis of Albinism in Fish |
| title_sort | phylogenetic analysis of core melanin synthesis genes provides novel insights into the molecular basis of albinism in fish |
| topic | melanin synthesis pathway core genes for melanin synthesis albinism phenotype nonsense mutation phylogenetic analysis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgene.2021.707228/full |
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