Meeting Abstract

P1-32   -   A Factor Required for Carotenoid Uptake into Bird Feathers Hansen Gonzalez, MH*; Carneiro, M; Toomey, MB; University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK; CIBIO-InBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Vairão,Portugal; University of Tulsa, Tulsa, OK meadowmhansen@gmail.com

The bright plumage color of birds is a celebrated example of biological diversity, yet we are only beginning to understand the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of color expression. Much of the red, orange and yellow plumage of birds is produced through the metabolism and deposition of diet-derived carotenoid pigments. We have investigated a unique color variant of the domesticated canary (Serinus canaria) called the white dominant canary. Typical canaries have brilliant yellow carotenoid-pigmented plumage, but the white dominant canary is pure white and their feathers largely lack carotenoids indicating that this breed harbors a defect in the uptake of carotenoid pigments into the feathers. Through whole-genome resequencing, we have identified a mutation in a member of the ATP-binding cassette transporter gene family that is associated with the white dominant phenotype. We will present studies investigating the specific functional role of this transporter in feather-specific carotenoid coloration.