Genetics: SLC24A5, a putative cation exchanger, affects pigmentation in zebrafish and humans

Rebecca L. Lamason, Manzoor Ali P.K. Mohideen, Jason R. Mest, Andrew C. Wong, Heather L. Norton, Michele C. Aros, Michael J. Jurynec, Xianyun Mao, Vanessa R. Humphreville, Jasper E. Humbert, Soniya Sinha, Jessica L. Moore, Pudur Jagadeeswaran, Wei Zhao, Gang Ning, Izabela Makalowska, Paul M. McKeigue, David O'Donnell, Rick Kittles, Esteban J. ParraNancy J. Mangini, David J. Grunwald, Mark D. Shriver, Victor A. Canfield, Keith C. Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

851 Scopus citations

Abstract

Lighter variations of pigmentation in humans are associated with diminished number, size, and density of melanosomes, the pigmented organelles of melanocytes. Here we show that zebrafish golden mutants share these melanosomal changes and that golden encodes a putative cation exchanger slc24a5 (nckx5) that localizes to an intracellular membrane, likely the melanosome or its precursor. The human ortholog is highly similar in sequence and functional in zebrafish. The evolutionarily conserved ancestral allele of a human coding polymorphism predominates in African and East Asian populations. In contrast, the variant allele is nearly fixed in European populations, is associated with a substantial reduction in regional heterozygosity, and correlates with lighter skin pigmentation in admixed populations, suggesting a key role for the SLC24A5 gene in human pigmentation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1782-1786
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume310
Issue number5755
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 16 2005

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

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