PUBLICATION
Genetic mapping and molecular mechanism behind color variation in the Asian vine snake
- Authors
- Tang, C.Y., Zhang, X., Xu, X., Sun, S., Peng, C., Song, M.H., Yan, C., Sun, H., Liu, M., Xie, L., Luo, S.J., Li, J.T.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-230310-42
- Date
- 2023
- Source
- Genome biology 24: 4646 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Sun, Huaqin
- Keywords
- Ahaetulla prasina, GWAS, Iridophores, Reptiles, Skin color
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors/genetics
- Chromatophores*
- Color
- Genome-Wide Association Study*
- Skin Pigmentation
- Snakes/genetics
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins
- PubMed
- 36895044 Full text @ Genome Biol.
Citation
Tang, C.Y., Zhang, X., Xu, X., Sun, S., Peng, C., Song, M.H., Yan, C., Sun, H., Liu, M., Xie, L., Luo, S.J., Li, J.T. (2023) Genetic mapping and molecular mechanism behind color variation in the Asian vine snake. Genome biology. 24:4646.
Abstract
Background Reptiles exhibit a wide variety of skin colors, which serve essential roles in survival and reproduction. However, the molecular basis of these conspicuous colors remains unresolved.
Results We investigate color morph-enriched Asian vine snakes (Ahaetulla prasina), to explore the mechanism underpinning color variations. Transmission electron microscopy imaging and metabolomics analysis indicates that chromatophore morphology (mainly iridophores) is the main basis for differences in skin color. Additionally, we assemble a 1.77-Gb high-quality chromosome-anchored genome of the snake. Genome-wide association study and RNA sequencing reveal a conservative amino acid substitution (p.P20S) in SMARCE1, which may be involved in the regulation of chromatophore development initiated from neural crest cells. SMARCE1 knockdown in zebrafish and immunofluorescence verify the interactions among SMARCE1, iridophores, and tfec, which may determine color variations in the Asian vine snake.
Conclusions This study reveals the genetic associations of color variation in Asian vine snakes, providing insights and important resources for a deeper understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms related to reptilian coloration.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping