鱼类类胡萝卜素着色研究进展

类胡萝卜素(carotenoid)是影响鱼类体色特性的主要色素,但鱼类自身不能合成这一色素,因此必须从食物中摄入。鱼类类胡萝卜素着色过程涉及对类胡萝卜素的代谢与沉积过程,色素细胞的分化和空间排列,以及与其他色素和色素细胞间的相互作用,这一过程非常复杂,但我们对其机理知之甚少。综述了类胡萝卜素着色效果与鱼类遗传特性、生理状态以及环境因素之间的相关关系,对该研究领域发展趋势进行了讨论和展望,期望为我国研究鱼类体色的形成机制提供一些新的信息。

Mechanisms underlying carotenoid-based coloration in fishes

Carotenoid pigments are responsible for many color hues in fishes. Fishes cannot synthesize carotenoids endogenously, but dietary carotenoids were derived from food. Carotenoid-based coloration is influenced by pigments in diet, chromatophore and the interaction of cells. Much less is known about the mechnisms of carotenoid-based coloration in fishes, particularly in the understanding of carotenoid metabolism pathways and the molecular basis of carotenoid coloration. In this paper, the correlations of genetic basis, physiological condition and environmental factors with carotenoid pigmentation in fishes were examined. Furthermore, molecular basis regarding the coloration process was reviewed. Gaps in our knowledge are discussed in the last part of this review. It is expected to provide some useful information for conducting similar research in China.