title: Effect of the MC1R gene on sexual dimorphism in melanin-based colorations.
abstract: Variants of the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene result in abrupt, naturally selected colour morphs. These genetic variants may differentially affect sexual dimorphism if one morph is naturally selected in the two sexes but another morph is naturally or sexually selected only in one of the two sexes (e.g. to confer camouflage in reproductive females or confer mating advantage in males). Therefore, the balance between natural and sexual selections can differ between MC1R variants, as suggest studies showing interspecific correlations between sexual dimorphism and the rate of nonsynonymous vs. synonymous amino acid substitutions at the MC1R. Surprisingly, how MC1R is related to within-species sexual dimorphism, and thereby to sex-specific selection, has not yet been investigated. We tackled this issue in the barn owl (Tyto alba), a species showing pronounced variation in the degree of reddish pheomelanin-based coloration and in the number and size of black feather spots. We found that a valine (V)-to-isoleucine (I) substitution at position 126 explains up to 30% of the variation in the three melanin-based colour traits and in feather melanin content. Interestingly, MC1R genotypes also differed in the degree of sexual colour dimorphism, with individuals homozygous for the II MC1R variant being 2 times redder and 2.5 times less sexually dimorphic than homozygous individuals for the VV MC1R variant. These findings support that MC1R interacts with the expression of sexual dimorphism and suggest that a gene with major phenotypic effects and weakly influenced by variation in body condition can participate in sex-specific selection processes.
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Luis M
authors: LM
authors: San-Jose
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Anne-Lyse
authors: AL
authors: Ducrest
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Valérie
authors: V
authors: Ducret
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Béziers
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Céline
authors: C
authors: Simon
authors: Department of Chemistry, Fujita Health University School of Health Sciences, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan.
authors: Kazumasa
authors: K
authors: Wakamatsu
authors: Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Biophore Building, CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors: Alexandre
authors: A
authors: Roulin
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D003116:Color; D005241:Feathers; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D008297:Male; D008543:Melanins / Q000032:analysis; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics*; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D020305:Strigiformes / Q000235:genetics*; D013557:Switzerland
chemical_list: D008543:Melanins; D044102:Receptor, Melanocortin, Type 1; C018362:pheomelanin
keywords: adaptive coloration; barn owl; genetic basis of coloration; natural selection; pigmentation; sexual selection