Adaptive evolution of cone opsin genes in two colorful cyprinids, Opsariichthys pachycephalus and Candidia barbatus.
Opsariichthys pachycephalus and Candidia barbatus are two phylogenetically related freshwater cyprinids that both exhibit colorful, yet quite different nuptial coloration. This study was designed to test the hypothesis that differences in nuptial coloration between two species could reflect differences in color perception ability and the opsin genes that coded for it. Genes encoding the visual pigments of these two species were cloned and sequenced, lambda(max) of cone photoreceptors and the reflectance spectra of their body coloration were measured to test the hypothesis. The 14-nm spectral shift between green-light-sensitive photoreceptors of these two cyprinids is found to correlate well with differences in their reflective spectra. The spectral shift could result from differential expression of opsin genes and the interactive effects of the amino acid replacements in various minor sites. These results support our hypothesis that nuptial coloration is tied to color perception ability and opsin genes.
Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Guangfu Road, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan.
Feng Yu
FY
Wang
Institute of Cellular & Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Wen Sung
WS
Chung
Institute of Cellular & Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Section 2, Academia Road, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan.
Hong Young
HY
Yan
Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, No. 101, Section 2, Guangfu Road, Hsinchu City 300, Taiwan.
Chyng Shyan
CS
Tzeng
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003118:Color Perception / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D055358:Cone Opsins / Q000235:genetics*; D003530:Cyprinidae / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D008297:Male; D015591:Microspectrophotometry / Q000379:methods; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010783:Photometry / Q000379:methods; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D013045:Species Specificity
D055358:Cone Opsins