Melanin and Neurotransmitter Signalling Genes Are Differentially Co‐Expressed in Growing Feathers of White and Rufous Barn Owls
Regulation of melanin-based pigmentation is complex, involving multiple genes. Because different genes can contribute to the same pigmentation phenotype, the genes identified in model organisms may not necessarily apply to wild species. In the barn owl (Tyto alba), ventral plumage colour ranges from white to rufous, with genetic variation in the melanocortin 1 receptor gene (MC1R) accounting for at least a third of this variation. In the present study, we used transcriptomic data to compare the gene expression profiles of growing feathers from nestlings with different MC1R genotypes. We identified 21 differentially expressed genes, nine of which are involved in melanogenesis, while seven are related to neurotransmitter function or synaptic activity. With the exception of CALB1, all of the differentially expressed genes were upregulated in rufous owls compared to white barn owls. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to link melanin production with neurotransmitter-related genes, and we discuss possible evolutionary explanations for this connection.
Authors
- Samuel Neuenschwander (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4080-5546)
- Marco Pagni (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9292-9463)
- Alexandre Roulin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1940-6927)
- Tristan Cumer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0276-7462)
- Mélanie Dupasquier
- Pauline Ducouret (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4768-8079)
- Christian Iseli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2296-2863)
- Jérôme Goudet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5318-7601)
- Pauline Charruau
- Hannes Richter
- Luis M. San‐Jose (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1351-4679)
- Nicolas Guex (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6023-0519)
- Emanuel Schmid‐Siegert (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1339-5120)
- Emmanuel Beaudoing
- Ioannis Xénarios (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3413-6841)
- Anne‐Lyse Ducrest (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6412-2769)
- Céline Simon
Institutions
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (CH)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- HES-SO Genève (CH)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (CH)
- University of Lausanne (CH)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research
- Published
- 2025-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1111/pcmr.70001
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- melanin and skin pigmentation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.30
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung