title: Local reorganization of xanthophores fine-tunes and colors the striped pattern of zebrafish.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Prateek
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mahalwar
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walderich
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany. ajeet.singh@tuebingen.mpg.de christiane.nuesslein-volhard@tuebingen.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Ajeet Pratap
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Max-Planck-Institut für Entwicklungsbiologie, Tübingen, Germany. ajeet.singh@tuebingen.mpg.de christiane.nuesslein-volhard@tuebingen.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nüsslein-Volhard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019521:Body Patterning / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D002856:Chromatophores / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008547:Melanophores / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012880:Skin Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D059008:Time-Lapse Imaging; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051763:PAX7 Transcription Factor; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C442229:sox10 protein, zebrafish; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins