{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Pigment patterns in adult fish result from superimposition of two largely independent pigmentation mechanisms.
{Author}: Ceinos RM;Guillot R;Kelsh RN;Cerdá-Reverter JM;Rotllant J;
{Journal}: Pigment Cell Melanoma Res
{Volume}: 28
{Issue}: 2
{Year}: Mar 2015
{Factor}: 4.159
{DOI}: 10.1111/pcmr.12335
{Abstract}: Dorso-ventral pigment pattern differences are the most widespread pigmentary adaptations in vertebrates. In mammals, this pattern is controlled by regulating melanin chemistry in melanocytes using a protein, agouti-signalling peptide (ASIP). In fish, studies of pigment patterning have focused on stripe formation, identifying a core striping mechanism dependent upon interactions between different pigment cell types. In contrast, mechanisms driving the dorso-ventral countershading pattern have been overlooked. Here, we demonstrate that, in fact, zebrafish utilize two distinct adult pigment patterning mechanisms - an ancient dorso-ventral patterning mechanism, and a more recent striping mechanism based on cell-cell interactions; remarkably, the dorso-ventral patterning mechanism also utilizes ASIP. These two mechanisms function largely independently, with resultant patterns superimposed to give the full pattern.