PUBLICATION

Long-distance communication by specialized cellular projections during pigment pattern development and evolution

Authors
Eom, D.S., Bain, E.J., Patterson, L.B., Grout, M.E., Parichy, D.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-151225-1
Date
2015
Source
eLIFE   4: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Parichy, David M., Patterson, Larissa
Keywords
developmental biology, evolutionary biology, genomics, stem cells, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Communication*
  • Cyprinidae/genetics
  • Cyprinidae/physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Melanophores/physiology*
  • Pigments, Biological/metabolism*
  • Secretory Vesicles/metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction*
PubMed
26701906 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Changes in gene activity are essential for evolutionary diversification. Yet, elucidating the cellular behaviors that underlie modifications to adult form remains a profound challenge. We use neural crest-derived adult pigmentation of zebrafish and pearl danio to uncover cellular bases for alternative pattern states. We show that stripes in zebrafish require a novel class of thin, fast cellular projection to promote Delta-Notch signaling over long distances from cells of the xanthophore lineage to melanophores. Projections depended on microfilaments and microtubules, exhibited meandering trajectories, and stabilized on target cells to which they delivered membraneous vesicles. By contrast, the uniformly patterned pearl danio lacked such projections, concomitant with Colony stimulating factor 1-dependent changes in xanthophore differentiation that likely curtail signaling available to melanophores. Our study reveals a novel mechanism of cellular communication, roles for differentiation state heterogeneity in pigment cell interactions, and an unanticipated morphogenetic behavior contributing to a striking difference in form.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping