Local reorganization of xanthophores fine-tunes and colors the striped pattern of zebrafish

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 345; no. 6202; pp. 1362 - 1364
• Main Authors: Mahalwar, Prateek, Walderich, Brigitte, Singh, Ajeet Pratap, Nüsslein-Volhard, Christiane
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association for the Advancement of Science 12.09.2014; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Adults; Animals; Arrivals; Body Patterning - genetics; Body Patterning - physiology; Cellular biology; Chromatophores - cytology; Chromatophores - physiology; Fish; Green Fluorescent Proteins - genetics; Green Fluorescent Proteins - metabolism; Hormones; Melanophores - cytology; Melanophores - physiology; Origins; PAX7 Transcription Factor - genetics; PAX7 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Pigments; Population Growth; Skin Pigmentation - genetics; Skin Pigmentation - physiology; SOXE Transcription Factors - genetics; SOXE Transcription Factors - metabolism; Stem cells; Time-Lapse Imaging; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - embryology; Zebrafish Proteins - genetics; Zebrafish Proteins - metabolism
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1254837

The pattern of alternating blue and golden stripes displayed by adult zebrafish is composed of three kinds of pigment cells: black melanophores, yellow xanthophores, and silvery-blue iridophores. We analyzed the dynamics of xanthophores during stripe morphogenesis in vivo with long-term time-lapse imaging. Larval xanthophores start to proliferate at the onset of metamorphosis and give rise to adult xanthophores covering the flank before the arrival of stem-cell–derived iridophores and melanophores. Xanthophores compact to densely cover the iridophores forming the interstripe, and they acquire a loose stellate shape over the melanophores in the stripes. Thus, xanthophores, attracted by iridophores and repelling melanophores, sharpen and color the pattern. Variations on these cell behaviors may contribute to the generation of color pattern diversity in fish.