Loss‐of‐function mutations in the melanocortin 1 receptor cause disruption of dorso‐ventral countershading in teleost fish

The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is the central melanocortin receptor involved in vertebrate pigmentation. Mutations in this gene cause variations in coat coloration in amniotes. Additionally, in mammals MC1R is the main receptor for agouti‐signaling protein (ASIP), making it the critical receptor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Pigment cell and melanoma research 2019-11, Vol.32 (6), p.817-828
Main Authors: Cal, Laura, Suarez‐Bregua, Paula, Braasch, Ingo, Irion, Uwe, Kelsh, Robert, Cerdá‐Reverter, Jose Miguel, Rotllant, Josep
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
a-Melanocyte-stimulating hormone
Asip1
chromatophore
Coloration
countershading
CRISPR
Dark adaptation
Disruption
iridophores
Light adaptation
Mc1r
Melanocortin
melanophores
Mutants
Mutation
Pigmentation
Skin
Vertebrates
xanthophores
Zebrafish
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Summary:The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is the central melanocortin receptor involved in vertebrate pigmentation. Mutations in this gene cause variations in coat coloration in amniotes. Additionally, in mammals MC1R is the main receptor for agouti‐signaling protein (ASIP), making it the critical receptor for the establishment of dorsal‐ventral countershading. In fish, Mc1r is also involved in pigmentation, but it has been almost exclusively studied in relation to melanosome dispersion activity and as a putative genetic factor involved in dark/light adaptation. However, its role as the crucial component for the Asip1‐dependent control of dorsal‐ventral pigmentation remains unexplored. Using CRISPR/Cas9, we created mc1r homozygous knockout zebrafish and found that loss‐of‐function of mc1r causes a reduction of countershading and a general paling of the animals. We find ectopic development of melanophores and xanthophores, accompanied by a decrease in iridophore numbers in the ventral region of mc1r mutants. We also reveal subtle differences in the role of mc1r in repressing pigment cell development between the skin and scale niches in ventral regions.
ISSN:1755-1471
1755-148X
DOI:10.1111/pcmr.12806