Alterations in Mc1r gene expression are associated with regressive pigmentation in Astyanax cavefish.

ABSTRACT: Diverse changes in coloration across distant taxa are mediated through alterations in certain highly conserved pigmentation genes. Among these genes, Mc1r is a frequent target for mutation, and many documented alterations involve coding sequence changes. We investigated whether regulatory mutations in Mc1r may also contribute to pigmentation loss in the blind Mexican cavefish, Astyanax mexicanus. This species comprises multiple independent cave populations that have evolved reduced (or absent) melanic pigmentation as a consequence of living in darkness for millions of generations. Among the most salient cave-associated traits, complete absence (albinism) or reduced levels of pigmentation (brown) have long been the focus of degenerative pigmentation research in Astyanax. These two Mendelian

SUBMITTER: Stahl BA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4749435 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature