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131104 - Regulatory changes in pterin and carotenoid genes underlie balanced color polymorphisms in the wall lizard.pdf (2.7 MB)

Regulatory changes in pterin and carotenoid genes underlie balanced color polymorphisms in the wall lizard

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posted on 2023-05-20, 01:19 authored by Andrade, P, Pinho, C, Perez i de Lanuza, G, Afonso, S, Brejcha, J, Rubin, C-J, Wallerman, O, Pereira, P, Sabatino, SJ, Bellati, A, Pellitteri-Rosa, D, Bosakova, Z, Bunikis, I, Carretero, MA, Feiner, N, Marsik, P, Pauperio, F, Salvi, D, Soler, L, Geoffrey WhileGeoffrey While, Uller, T, Font, E, Andersson, L, Carneiro, M
Reptiles show an amazing color diversity based on variation in melanins, carotenoids, and pterins. This study reveals genes controlling differences between three color morphs (white, orange, and yellow) in the common wall lizard. Orange pigmentation, due to high levels of orange/red pterins in skin, is caused by genetic changes in the sepiapterin reductase gene. Yellow skin, showing high levels of yellow carotenoids, is controlled by the beta-carotene oxygenase 2 locus. Thus, the color polymorphism in the common wall lizard is associated with changes in two small regions of the genome containing genes with crucial roles in pterin and carotenoid metabolism. These genes are likely to have pleiotropic effects on behavior and other traits associated with the different color morphs.

History

Publication title

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Volume

116

Issue

12

Pagination

5633-5642

ISSN

0027-8424

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Natl Acad Sciences

Place of publication

2101 Constitution Ave Nw, Washington, USA, Dc, 20418

Rights statement

Copyright 2018 The Authors. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Repository Status

  • Open

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences