Naslov
Evolution of melanin pigment loss in subterranean amphipods and isopods

Autori
Fong, Daniel W. ; Bilandžija, Helena ; Laslo, Mara

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
The Crustacean Society and International Association of Astacology 2015 Mid-Year Meeting Abstracts / - , 2015, 27-27

Skup
The Crustacean Society and International Association of Astacology 2015 Mid-Year Meeting

Mjesto i datum
Sydney, Australija, 19.07.2015. - 23.07.2015

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
melanin synthesis, cave adapted animals, pigment loss

Sažetak
Melanin synthesis was inhibited by an inability to convert L-tyrosine to L-DOPA, the first step in the pathway, in cave and surface populations of the gammarid amphipod, Gammarus minus, and in five crangonyctid species of Stygobromus from different subterranean habitats plus two surface species of Crangonyx. Melanin was synthesized as part of the innate immune response during wound healing in all of the species, indicating initial repression and subsequent expression, when subjected to appropriate stimuli, of genes controlling enzyme(s) catalyzing this step. The results suggest melanin pigment loss in cave amphipods evolved because selection favored repressed gene expression(s) at this step, thus pigment loss may have occurred prior to colonization of the subterranean habitat. Similar experiments conducted on isopods, one surface and four subterranean asellid species of Caecidotea and one subterranean cirolanid, Cirolanides texensis, however, yielded different results, indicating evolution of melanin pigment loss in subterranean species may result from different mechanisms in different taxonomic groups. We present some initial results of similar experiments on additional taxa from a phylogenetic perspective.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Biologija

POVEZANOST RADA