Variation in pigmentation gene expression is associated with distinct aposematic color morphs in the poison frog Dendrobates auratus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Color and pattern phenotypes have clear implications for survival and reproduction in many species. However, the mechanisms that produce this coloration are still poorly characterized, especially at the genomic level. Here we have taken a transcriptomics-based approach to elucidate the underlying genetic mechanisms affecting color and pattern in a highly polytypic poison frog. We sequenced RNA from the skin from four different color morphs during the final stage of metamorphosis and assembled a de novo transcriptome. We then investigated differential gene expression, with an emphasis on examining candidate color genes from other taxa.

Results

Overall, we found differential expression of a suite of genes that control melanogenesis, melanocyte differentiation, and m

SUBMITTER: Stuckert AMM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6472079 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature