The loss of pigmentation in cave animals (CROSBI ID 654609)
Prilog sa skupa u zborniku | sažetak izlaganja sa skupa
Podaci o odgovornosti
Bilandzija, Helena ; Jeffery, William R.
engleski
The loss of pigmentation in cave animals
One of the most notable consequences of life in caves is the loss of pigmentation. It has occurred in a plethora of different organisms, including planarians, mollusks, arthropods and vertebrates. To gain insights into molecular and evolutionary mechanisms governing this regressive trait, we have devised a melanogenic substrate assay. By supplying precursors of melanin synthesis, we can infer which step of biosynthesis pathway has been disrupted leading to the loss of pigmentation in cave animals. Surprisingly, the first step of melanin synthesis, the conversion of L-tyrosine to L-DOPA, has been affected in all species tested so far. The convergence of multiple cave species at a single step of the melanin synthesis pathway suggests that natural selection may be involved in this process. We are presently testing several hypotheses to explain this remarkable convergence and the possible benefits of pigmentation loss that could be targeted by natural selection.
loss of pigmentation, convergence, melanin, cave animals
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Podaci o prilogu
1-1.
2015.
objavljeno
Podaci o matičnoj publikaciji
The National Speleological Society Convention 2015 Abstracts
Podaci o skupu
The National Speleological Society Convention 2015
predavanje
13.07.2015-17.07.2015
Waynesville (MO), Sjedinjene Američke Države