PUBLICATION
Iridophores as a source of robustness in zebrafish stripes and variability in Danio patterns
- Authors
- Volkening, A., Sandstede, B.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-180816-3
- Date
- 2018
- Source
- Nature communications 9: 3231 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Chromatophores/metabolism*
- Computer Simulation
- Models, Biological
- Pigmentation*
- Zebrafish/growth & development
- Zebrafish/physiology*
- PubMed
- 30104716 Full text @ Nat. Commun.
Citation
Volkening, A., Sandstede, B. (2018) Iridophores as a source of robustness in zebrafish stripes and variability in Danio patterns. Nature communications. 9:3231.
Abstract
Zebrafish (Danio rerio) feature black and yellow stripes, while related Danios display different patterns. All these patterns form due to the interactions of pigment cells, which self-organize on the fish skin. Until recently, research focused on two cell types (melanophores and xanthophores), but newer work has uncovered the leading role of a third type, iridophores: by carefully orchestrated transitions in form, iridophores instruct the other cells, but little is known about what drives their form changes. Here we address this question from a mathematical perspective: we develop a model (based on known interactions between the original two cell types) that allows us to assess potential iridophore behavior. We identify a set of mechanisms governing iridophore form that is consistent across a range of empirical data. Our model also suggests that the complex cues iridophores receive may act as a key source of redundancy, enabling both robust patterning and variability within Danio.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping