Article

Isolation, identification and characterisation of ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta plasma pigment

Details

Citation

Clark W, Leclercq E, Migaud H, Nairn J & Davie A (2016) Isolation, identification and characterisation of ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta plasma pigment. Journal of Fish Biology, 89 (4), pp. 2070-2084. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.13106

Abstract
This study confirmed that observations of blue-green colouration in plasma fractions of the ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta were caused by the linear tetra-pyrrole biliverdin, and that the molecule was of the physiologically relevant IXα isomer. Accumulation appears driven by chromogenic association with an unknown protein moiety which precludes enzymatic reduction and would suggest active management. It was demonstrated that the pigment did not fluctuate relative to ontogeny, or indeed binary gender in the species of interest, but mobilisation and depletion in the subset of individuals undergoing sex change at the time of study supports a potential association with gender inversion processes. It is of note that although biliverdin does have some effect on external colouration, the evidence is indicative that crypsis is a supplementary function thus other factors must be considered.

Keywords
Ballan wrasse; Blue serum; Biliverdin; Biliverdin Ixα; Biliverdin reductase; Bilirubin

Journal
Journal of Fish Biology: Volume 89, Issue 4

StatusPublished
FundersTechnology Strategy Board
Publication date31/10/2016
Publication date online09/08/2016
Date accepted by journal05/07/2016
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/24083
PublisherWiley-Blackwell for the Fisheries Society of the British Isles
ISSN0022-1112
eISSN1095-8649

People (1)

Professor Herve Migaud

Professor Herve Migaud

Honorary Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

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