In vitro analysis suggests that difference in cell movement during direct interaction can generate various pigment patterns in vivo.

ABSTRACT: Pigment patterns of organisms have invoked strong interest from not only biologists but also, scientists in many other fields. Zebrafish is a useful model animal for studying the mechanism of pigment pattern formation. The zebrafish stripe pattern is primarily two types of pigment cells: melanophores and xanthophores. Previous studies have reported that interactions among these pigment cells are important for pattern formation. In the recent report, we found that the direct contact by xanthophores induces the membrane depolarization of melanophores. From analysis of jaguar mutants, it is suggested that the depolarization affects the movements of melanophores. To analyze the cell movement in detail, we established a unique in vitro system. It allowed us to find that WT xanthophores induced

SUBMITTER: Yamanaka H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3918784 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature