Developmental genetics of color pattern establishment in cats.
Nat Commun
; 12(1): 5127, 2021 09 07.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34493721
ABSTRACT
Intricate color patterns are a defining aspect of morphological diversity in the Felidae. We applied morphological and single-cell gene expression analysis to fetal skin of domestic cats to identify when, where, and how, during fetal development, felid color patterns are established. Early in development, we identify stripe-like alterations in epidermal thickness preceded by a gene expression pre-pattern. The secreted Wnt inhibitor encoded by Dickkopf 4 plays a central role in this process, and is mutated in cats with the Ticked pattern type. Our results bring molecular understanding to how the leopard got its spots, suggest that similar mechanisms underlie periodic color pattern and periodic hair follicle spacing, and identify targets for diverse pattern variation in other mammals.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Pigmentation
/
Cats
/
Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Animals
Language:
En
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
BIOLOGIA
/
CIENCIA
Year:
2021
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country: