PUBLICATION

Involvement of the mitfa gene in the development of pigment cell in Japanese ornamental (Koi) carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Authors
Liu, J.H., Wen, S., Luo, C., Zhang, Y.Q., Tao, M., Wang, D.W., Deng, S.M., Xiao, Y.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-150414-4
Date
2015
Source
Genetics and molecular research : GMR   14: 2775-2784 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Melanocytes/metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Color
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Blastula/metabolism
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/classification
  • Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor/genetics*
  • Carps/embryology
  • Carps/genetics*
  • Carps/growth & development
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Phylogeny
  • DNA, Complementary/chemistry
  • DNA, Complementary/genetics
  • Larva/genetics
  • Skin/embryology
  • Skin/growth & development
  • Skin/metabolism
  • Fish Proteins/genetics*
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Skin Pigmentation/genetics
(all 25)
PubMed
25867426 Full text @ Genet. Mol. Res.
Abstract
A colored phenotype is an important feature of ornamental fish. In mammals, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) was found to regulate the development of melanocytes. In this study, the mitfa cDNA was first cloned from the Japanese ornamental (Koi) carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), an important ornamental freshwater fish. The full-length cDNA of the mitfa gene contains 1634 bp, coding for 412 amino acids in Koi. The identity degree of mitfa amino acid sequences between the Koi carp and zebrafish is 92.9%. We tested the expression of the mitfa gene in several varieties of Koi using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and found that the mitfa gene is highly expressed in the skin tissues of the Taisho sanke and the Procypris merus. Interestingly, the mitfa gene was also expressed in the Kohaku and Yamabaki ogon, although melanocytes were not observed in the skin. Koi carp embryos were transparent and colorless, while after hatching, different types of pigment cells successively emerged in a fixed order. In Taisho sanke, melanocytes first appeared in the trunk at approximately 12 days of age. Subsequently, there was a large area of melanocytes by 30 days of age. The expression level of the mitfa mRNA was low in early embryos and newly hatched larvae, and increased to high levels in 30-day-old fry. The results show that the mitfa gene is involved in regulating fish body color in the development of both melanocytes and pigment cells.
Genes / Markers
Figures
No images available
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping
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Citation
Liu, J.H., Wen, S., Luo, C., Zhang, Y.Q., Tao, M., Wang, D.W., Deng, S.M., Xiao, Y.M. (2015) Involvement of the mitfa gene in the development of pigment cell in Japanese ornamental (Koi) carp (Cyprinus carpio L.). Genetics and molecular research : GMR. 14:2775-2784.