MITF Contributes to the Body Color Differentiation of Sea Cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus through Expression Differences and Regulation of Downstream Genes.

ABSTRACT: Melanin, which is a pigment produced in melanocytes, is an important contributor to sea cucumber body color. MITF is one of the most critical genes in melanocyte development and melanin synthesis pathways. However, how MITF regulates body color and differentiation in sea cucumbers is poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression level and location of MITF in white, purple, and green sea cucumbers and identified the genes regulated by MITF using chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing. The mRNA and protein expression levels of MITF were all highest in purple morphs and lowest in white morphs. In situ hybridization indicated that MITF mRNA were mainly expressed in the epidermis. We also identified 984, 732, and 1191 peaks of MITF binding in green, pu

SUBMITTER: Xing L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9854957 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature