Morphological Characters and Transcriptome Profiles Associated with Black Skin and Red Skin in Crimson Snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus)

Abstract

In this study, morphology observation and illumina sequencing were performed on two different coloration skins of crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus), the black zone and the red zone. Three types of chromatophores, melanophores, iridophores and xanthophores, were organized in the skins. The main differences between the two colorations were in the amount and distribution of the three chromatophores. After comparing the two transcriptomes, 9200 unigenes with significantly different expressions (ratio change ≥ 2 and q-value ≤ 0.05) were found, of which 5972 were up-regulated in black skin and 3228 were up-regulated in red skin. Through the function annotation, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis of the differentially transcribed genes, we excavated a number of uncharacterized candidate pigment genes as well as found the conserved genes affecting pigmentation in crimson snapper. The patterns of expression of 14 pigment genes were confirmed by the Quantitative real-time PCR analysis between the two color skins. Overall, this study shows a global survey of the morphological characters and transcriptome analysis of the different coloration skins in crimson snapper, and provides valuable cellular and genetic information to uncover the mechanism of the formation of pigment patterns in snappers.

Morphological Characteristics and Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Three Different Phenotypes of Pristella maxillaris

“…As one of the most diverse phenotypic traits under strong selection pressure in many organisms, coloration plays numerous adaptive functions such as predator deterrence, species recognition, and even protecting the organism from solar ultraviolet radiation damage (Lowe and Goodman-Lowe, 1996; Parichy, 2006; Roberts et al, 2009; Zhang et al, 2015). Skin coloration can be influenced by many factors, such as genetics, diet, and general health (Wang et al, 2014; Zhang et al, 2015). Nevertheless, genetics remains the major determining factor (Braasch et al, 2007).…”

“…Teleost fishes have more than six types of pigment cells (Michiels et al, 2008; Wucherer and Michiels, 2012; Goda et al, 2013; Wucherer and Michiels, 2014; Schartl et al, 2016). Zhang et al (2015) found that the differences in two color patterns of the crimson snapper ( Lutjanus erythropterus ) primarily depended on the density and distribution of pigment cells; in black skin, melanophores are the major pigment cells, and in red skin, iridophores and xanthophores are the major pigment cells. In adult red crucian carp ( Carassius auratus , red var.…”

“…In addition, transcriptome analyses of different colored varieties of the common carp ( Cyprinus carpio var. color ) (Wang et al, 2014), crimson snapper (Zhang et al, 2015), Midas cichlid ( Amphilophus citrinellus ) (Higdon et al, 2013), and red crucian carp (Zhu et al, 2018) were performed to understand the genetic basis of coloration. Signaling pathways, such as the Wnt/β-catenin (wingless-type MMTV integration site family), tyrosinase synthesis, MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase), and cAMP (cyclic adenosine monophosphate) pathways, have been shown as conserved pathways that are related to melanophore development in vertebrates (Jiang et al, 2014; Wang et al, 2014).…”

Political Sophistication: How Values and Social Capital Contribute to Political Knowledge and Cognition

“…), zebrafish (Danio rerio), and crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus). Each study found DCT and PMEL to be the most differentially expressed genes in black skin (Higdon et al, 2013, Zhang et al, 2015, Zhu et al, 2016. The findings in this study suggest that the hyperpigmentated areas of smallmouth bass are caused by upregulation of melanin biogenesis and melanosome formation.…”

“…Multiple gene expression studies have been executed to determine specific genes responsible for melanogenesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), and crimson snapper (Lutjanus erythropterus) (Higdon et al, 2013, Jiang et al, 2014, Zhang et al, 2015. Genes associated with the regulation of melanogenesis were chosen because of their roles described above.…”