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High-density lipoprotein receptor SCARB1 is required for carotenoid coloration in birds

2017; National Academy of Sciences; Volume: 114; Issue: 20 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1073/pnas.1700751114

1091-6490

Matthew B. Toomey, Ricardo J. Lopes, Pedro M. Araújo, James D. Johnson, Małgorzata Anna Gazda, Sandra Afonso, Paulo Gama Mota, Rebecca E. Koch, Geoffrey E. Hill, Joseph C. Corbo, Miguel Carneiro,

Physiological and biochemical adaptations

Significance The yellow, orange, and red colors of birds are produced through the deposition of carotenoid pigments into feathers and skin, and often function as signals in aggressive interactions and mate choice. These colors are hypothesized to communicate information about individual quality because their expression is linked to vital cellular processes through the mechanisms of carotenoid metabolism. To elucidate these mechanisms, we carried out genomic and biochemical analyses of the white recessive canary breed, which carries a heritable defect in carotenoid uptake. We identified a mutation in the SCARB1 gene in this breed that disrupts carotenoid transport function. Our study implicates SCARB1 as a key mediator of carotenoid-based coloration and suggests a link between carotenoid coloration and lipid metabolism.