Publications

influence of geography and climate on patterns of cell size and body size in the lizard anolis carolinensis.	geographic patterns in body size are often associated with latitude, elevation, or environmental and climatic variables. this study investigated patterns of body size and cell size of the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis, and potential associations with geography or climatic variables. lizards were sampled from 19 populations across the native range, and body size, red blood cell size and size and number of muscle cells were measured. climatic data from local weather stations and latitude ...	2013	23731814
genome reannotation of the lizard anolis carolinensis based on 14 adult and embryonic deep transcriptomes.	the green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis, is a key species for both laboratory and field-based studies of evolutionary genetics, development, neurobiology, physiology, behavior, and ecology. as the first non-avian reptilian genome sequenced, a. carolinesis is also a prime reptilian model for comparison with other vertebrate genomes. the public databases of ensembl and ncbi have provided a first generation gene annotation of the anole genome that relies primarily on sequence conservation with ...	2013	23343042
lizards and lines: selection and demography affect the fate of l1 retrotransposons in the genome of the green anole (anolis carolinensis).		2013	27798071
immunohistological and electrophysiological evidence that n-acetylaspartylglutamate is a co-transmitter at the vertebrate neuromuscular junction.	immunohistochemical studies previously revealed the presence of the peptide transmitter n-acetylaspartylglutamate (naag) in spinal motor neurons, axons and presumptive neuromuscular junctions (nmjs). at synapses in the central nervous system, naag has been shown to activate the type 3 metabotropic glutamate receptor (mglur3) and is inactivated by an extracellular peptidase, glutamate carboxypeptidase ii. the present study tested the hypothesis that naag meets the criteria for classification as a ...	2013	23134476
does serotonin influence aggression? comparing regional activity before and during social interaction.	serotonin is widely believed to exert inhibitory control over aggressive behavior and intent. in addition, a number of studies of fish, reptiles, and mammals, including the lizard anolis carolinensis, have demonstrated that serotonergic activity is stimulated by aggressive social interaction in both dominant and subordinate males. as serotonergic activity does not appear to inhibit agonistic behavior during combative social interaction, we investigated the possibility that the negative correlati ...	2013	16059845
granulocytes of reptilian sauropsids contain beta-defensin-like peptides: a comparative ultrastructural survey.	the ability of lizards to withstand infections after wounding or amputation of the tail or limbs has suggested the presence of antimicrobial peptides in their tissues. previous studies on the lizard anolis carolinensis have identified several beta-defensin-like peptides that may potentially be involved in protection from infections. the present ultrastructural immunocytochemical study has analyzed tissues in different reptilian species in order to localize the cellular source of one of the more ...	2013	23553853
reptile genomes open the frontier for comparative analysis of amniote development and regeneration.	developmental genetic studies of vertebrates have focused primarily on zebrafish, frog and mouse models, which have clear application to medicine and well-developed genomic resources. in contrast, reptiles represent the most diverse amniote group, but have only recently begun to gather the attention of genome sequencing efforts. extant reptilian groups last shared a common ancestor ?280 million years ago and include lepidosaurs, turtles and crocodilians. this phylogenetic diversity is reflected ...	2014	26154326
a new green anole lizard of the "dactyloa" clade (squamata: dactyloidae) from the magdalena river valley of colombia .	we describe a new species of anolis from the magdalena river valley in colombia. the new species is morphologically similar to anolis ibanezi and a. chocorum, but differs in body and dewlap color, and head scalation. we performed an exploratory multivariate analysis based on 15 morphological characteristics of the new species and a chocorum and found that differences between both species are mainly associated with head dimensions. a phylogenetic analysis based on morphological characters suggest ...	2014	24872178
partial characterization of new adenoviruses found in lizards.	in the years 2011-2012, a consensus nested polymerase chain reaction was used for the detection of adenovirus (adv) infection in reptiles. during this screening, three new advs were detected. one of these viruses was detected in three lizards from a group of green striped tree dragons (japalura splendida). another was detected in a green anole (anolis carolinensis). a third virus was detected in a jackson's chameleon (chamaeleo jacksonii). analysis of a portion of the dna-dependent dna polymeras ...	2014	25000689
ultrastructural immunolocalization of chatelicidin-like peptides in granulocytes of normal and regenerating lizard tissues.	the presence and localization of cathelicidin anti-microbial peptides in the lizard, anolis carolinensis, were investigated by immunocytochemistry. the study showed that immunoreactivity for cathelicidins 1 and 2 was only present in large granules of heterophilic-basophilic granulocytes, rarely found in the dermis and sub-dermal muscle in normal and more frequently in wound and regenerating skin tissues or in the blood. some immunopositive granulocytes were also observed among the keratinocytes ...	2014	24139311
heat and aitc activate green anole trpa1 in a membrane-delimited manner.	transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (trpa1) is a member of the large trp super family of ion channels and functions as a ca(2+)-permeable nonselective cation channel that is activated by various noxious stimuli. trpa1 was initially identified as a potential mediator of noxious cold stimuli in mammalian nociceptive sensory neurons, while trpa1s from nonmammalian vertebrates (snakes, green anole lizards, and frogs) were recently reported to be activated by heat, but not cold stimulus. in this s ...	2014	24385018
genetic variation in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) reveals island refugia and a fragmented florida during the quaternary.	the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) is a model organism for behavior and genomics that is native to the southeastern united states. it is currently thought that the ancestors of modern green anoles dispersed to peninsular florida from cuba. however, the climatic changes and geological features responsible for the early diversification of a. carolinensis in north america have remained largely unexplored. this is because previous studies (1) differ in their estimates of the divergence tim ...	2014	24379168
relationships among sex, season and testosterone in the expression of androgen receptor mrna and protein in the green anole forebrain.	sexual behavior in male green anole lizards is regulated by a seasonal increase in testosterone (t). however, t is much more effective at activating behavioral, morphological and biochemical changes related to reproduction in the breeding season (bs; spring) compared to nonbreeding season (nbs; fall). an increase in androgen receptor (ar) during the bs is one potential mechanism for this differential responsiveness. ar expression has not been investigated in specific brain regions across seasons ...	2014	25471151
arginine vasotocin, steroid hormones and social behavior in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis).	arginine vasotocin (avt) is a potent regulator of social behavior in many species, but little is known about its role in reptilian behavior. here we examine the effect of exogenous avt on aggressive responding and courtship behavior in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). aggressive behavior was stimulated in two ways: (1) mirror presentation (no relative status formed) and (2) size-matched pairs (where a social status is achieved). to elicit courtship behavior, a novel female was intro ...	2014	25147242
the corneous layer of the claw in the lizard anolis carolinensis mainly contains the glycine-cysteine-rich beta-protein hggc3 in addition to hard keratins.	the localization of specific claw beta-proteins among the 40 total corneous beta-proteins present in the lizard anolis carolinensis is not known. the hardness of claws likely depends on glycine-cysteine-rich beta-proteins content, as suggested by previous immunoblot studies. previous studies have indicated that glycine-cysteine-rich corneous beta-proteins in addition to cysteine-rich alpha-keratins are present in the claw. in order to detect at the ultrastructural level the presence of claw-spec ...	2014	25074456
differences in forebrain androgen receptor expression in winners and losers of male anole aggressive interactions.	size matched male green anoles (anolis carolinensis) were paired in a neutral setting and allowed to engage in aggressive displays. winners and losers were apparent in each pair within 90min, resulting in stable dominant/subordinate dyads. androgen receptor (ar) expression was assessed at three time points after the initial pairing, 2h, 3 days, and 10 days in dominants, subordinates, and two groups of control males housed alone or with a female for an equal period of time. expression was quantif ...	2014	25069090
immunolocalization of specific beta-proteins in pad lamellae of the digits in the lizard anolis carolinensis suggests that cysteine-rich beta-proteins provides flexibility.	knowledge of beta-protein (beta-keratin) sequences in anolis carolinensis facilitates the localization of specific sites in the skin of this lizard. the epidermal distribution of two new beta-proteins (betakeratins), hggc8 and hgg13, has been analyzed by western blotting, light and ultrastructural immunocytochemistry. hggc8 includes 16 kda members of the glycine-cysteine medium-rich subfamily and is mainly expressed in the beta-layer of adhesive setae but not in the setae. hggc8 is absent in oth ...	2014	24843861
context-dependent changes in motor control and kinematics during locomotion: modulation and decoupling.	successful locomotion through complex, heterogeneous environments requires the muscles that power locomotion to function effectively under a wide variety of conditions. although considerable data exist on how animals modulate both kinematics and motor pattern when confronted with orientation (i.e. incline) demands, little is known about the modulation of muscle function in response to changes in structural demands like substrate diameter, compliance and texture. here, we used high-speed videogra ...	2014	24621949
identification of sex-specific molecular markers using restriction site-associated dna sequencing.	a major barrier to evolutionary studies of sex determination and sex chromosomes has been a lack of information on the types of sex-determining mechanisms that occur among different species. this is particularly problematic in groups where most species lack visually heteromorphic sex chromosomes, such as fish, amphibians and reptiles, because cytogenetic analyses will fail to identify the sex chromosomes in these species. we describe the use of restriction site-associated dna (rad) sequencing, o ...	2014	24506574
evolutionary origin and diversification of epidermal barrier proteins in amniotes.	the evolution of amniotes has involved major molecular innovations in the epidermis. in particular, distinct structural proteins that undergo covalent cross-linking during cornification of keratinocytes facilitate the formation of mechanically resilient superficial cell layers and help to limit water loss to the environment. special modes of cornification generate amniote-specific skin appendages such as claws, feathers, and hair. in mammals, many protein substrates of cornification are encoded ...	2014	25169930
biased gene conversion and gc-content evolution in the coding sequences of reptiles and vertebrates.	mammalian and avian genomes are characterized by a substantial spatial heterogeneity of gc-content, which is often interpreted as reflecting the effect of local gc-biased gene conversion (gbgc), a meiotic repair bias that favors g and c over a and t alleles in high-recombining genomic regions. surprisingly, the first fully sequenced nonavian sauropsid (i.e., reptile), the green anole anolis carolinensis, revealed a highly homogeneous genomic gc-content landscape, suggesting the possibility that ...	2014	25527834
the xenopus alcohol dehydrogenase gene family: characterization and comparative analysis incorporating amphibian and reptilian genomes.	the alcohol dehydrogenase (adh) gene family uniquely illustrates the concept of enzymogenesis. in vertebrates, tandem duplications gave rise to a multiplicity of forms that have been classified in eight enzyme classes, according to primary structure and function. some of these classes appear to be exclusive of particular organisms, such as the frog adh8, a unique nadp+-dependent adh enzyme. this work describes the adh system of xenopus, as a model organism, and explores the first amphibian and r ...	2014	24649825
rapid evolution of a native species following invasion by a congener.	in recent years, biologists have increasingly recognized that evolutionary change can occur rapidly when natural selection is strong; thus, real-time studies of evolution can be used to test classic evolutionary hypotheses directly. one such hypothesis is that negative interactions between closely related species can drive phenotypic divergence. such divergence is thought to be ubiquitous, though well-documented cases are surprisingly rare. on small islands in florida, we found that the lizard a ...	2014	25342801
evolution of gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone receptor and its ligand.	gonadotropin-inhibitory hormone (gnih) is a neuropeptide inhibitor of gonadotropin secretion, which was first identified in the japanese quail hypothalamus. gnih peptides share a c-terminal lpxrfamide (x=l or q) motif in most vertebrates. the receptor for gnih (gnihr) is the seven-transmembrane g protein-coupled receptor 147 (gpr147) that inhibits camp production. gpr147 is also named neuropeptide ff (npff) receptor 1 (npffr1), because it also binds npff that has a c-terminal pqrfamide motif. to ...	2014	25220854
genomic support for a moa-tinamou clade and adaptive morphological convergence in flightless ratites.	one of the most startling discoveries in avian molecular phylogenetics is that the volant tinamous are embedded in the flightless ratites, but this topology remains controversial because recent morphological phylogenies place tinamous as the closest relative of a monophyletic ratite clade. here, we integrate new phylogenomic sequences from 1,448 nuclear dna loci totaling almost 1 million bp from the extinct little bush moa, chilean tinamou, and emu with available sequences from ostrich, elegant ...	2014	24825849
identification of the linkage group of the z sex chromosomes of the sand lizard (lacerta agilis, lacertidae) and elucidation of karyotype evolution in lacertid lizards.	the sand lizard (lacerta agilis, lacertidae) has a chromosome number of 2n = 38, with 17 pairs of acrocentric chromosomes, one pair of microchromosomes, a large acrocentric z chromosome, and a micro-w chromosome. to investigate the process of karyotype evolution in l. agilis, we performed chromosome banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization for gene mapping and constructed a cytogenetic map with 86 functional genes. chromosome banding revealed that the z chromosome is the fifth largest chrom ...	2014	24840599
exploring the genetic basis of adaptation to high elevations in reptiles: a comparative transcriptome analysis of two toad-headed agamas (genus phrynocephalus).	high elevation adaptation offers an excellent study system to understand the genetic basis of adaptive evolution. we acquired transcriptome sequences of two closely related lizards, phrynocephalus przewalskii from low elevations and p. vlangalii from high elevations. within a phylogenetic framework, we compared their genomic data along with green anole, chicken and chinese softshell turtle, and identified candidate genes and functional categories that are potentially linked to adaptation to high ...	2014	25386640
a candidate multimodal functional genetic network for thermal adaptation.	vertebrate ectotherms such as reptiles provide ideal organisms for the study of adaptation to environmental thermal change. comparative genomic and exomic studies can recover markers that diverge between warm and cold adapted lineages, but the genes that are functionally related to thermal adaptation may be difficult to identify. we here used a bioinformatics genome-mining approach to predict and identify functions for suitable candidate markers for thermal adaptation in the chicken. we first es ...	2014	25289178
novel x-linked genes revealed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in the green anole, anolis carolinensis.	the green anole, anolis carolinensis (aca), is the model reptile for a vast array of biological disciplines. it was the first nonavian reptile to have its genome fully sequenced. during the genome project, the xx/xy system of sex chromosomes homologous to chicken chromosome 15 (gga15) was revealed, and 106 x-linked genes were identified. we selected 38 genes located on eight scaffolds in aca and having orthologs located on gga15, then tested their linkage to aca x chromosome by using comparative ...	2014	25172916
analysis of the pharmacological properties of chicken melanocortin-2 receptor (cmc2r) and chicken melanocortin-2 accessory protein 1 (cmrap1).	the chicken (gallus gallus) melanocortin-2 receptor (cmc2r) can be functionally expressed in cho cells when chicken melanocortin-2 receptor accessory protein 1 (cmrap1) is co-expressed. the transiently transfected cho cells responded in a robust manner to stimulation by hacth(1-24) (ec50 value=2.7 × 10(-12)m +/- 1.3 × 10(-12)), but the transfected cho cells could not be stimulated by ndp-msh at concentrations as high as 10(-7)m. incubation of cmc2r/cmrap1 transfected cells with alanine substitut ...	2014	24726989
application of the luminometric methylation assay to ecological species: tissue quality requirements and a survey of dna methylation levels in animals.	the luminometric methylation assay (luma) measures global dna methylation. luma depends on digestion of dna with methyl-sensitive and methyl-insensitive restriction enzymes, followed by pyrosequencing. until recently, luma has been principally used for biomedical research. here, we use chickens as a model to investigate sample quality issues relating to luma and then apply the method to ecological species. first, we assessed the effect of tissue storage conditions on dna methylation values. this ...	2014	24576185
replicated high-density genetic maps of two great tit populations reveal fine-scale genomic departures from sex-equal recombination rates.	linking variation in quantitative traits to variation in the genome is an important, but challenging task in the study of life-history evolution. linkage maps provide a valuable tool for the unravelling of such trait-gene associations. moreover, they give insight into recombination landscapes and between-species karyotype evolution. here we used genotype data, generated from a 10k single-nucleotide polymorphism (snp) chip, of over 2000 individuals to produce high-density linkage maps of the grea ...	2014	24149651
a new caryosporan and eimerian (apicomplexa: eimeriidae) from green anoles, anolis carolinensis (sauria: dactyloidae), from arkansas and louisiana, with a summary of the coccidia of dactyloidae.	between april 2012 and september 2013, feces from 18 green anoles, anolis carolinensis from arkansas (n = 14), louisiana (n = 1), and oklahoma (n = 3) were examined for coccidia. two species of coccidians were found, including a new caryosporan and a new eimerian. oocysts of caryospora natchitochesensis n. sp. from a single a. carolinensis from louisiana were subspheroidal to ovoidal with a smooth, yellow-to-brown-pigmented, bilayered wall of equal thickness (∼0.3-0.7) and measured (l × w) 13.1 ...	2014	24673588
transcriptomic analysis of tail regeneration in the lizard anolis carolinensis reveals activation of conserved vertebrate developmental and repair mechanisms.	lizards, which are amniote vertebrates like humans, are able to lose and regenerate a functional tail. understanding the molecular basis of this process would advance regenerative approaches in amniotes, including humans. we have carried out the first transcriptomic analysis of tail regeneration in a lizard, the green anole anolis carolinensis, which revealed 326 differentially expressed genes activating multiple developmental and repair mechanisms. specifically, genes involved in wound response ...	2014	25140675
microsatellite analysis of the population genetic structure of anolis carolinensis introduced to the ogasawara islands.	dna analysis can reveal the origins and dispersal patterns of invasive species. the green anole anolis carolinensis is one such alien animal, which has been dispersed widely by humans from its native north america to many pacific ocean islands. in the ogasawara (bonin) islands, this anole was recorded from chichi-jima at the end of the 1960s, and then from haha-jima in the early 1980s. these two islands are inhabited. in 2013, it was also found on the uninhabited ani-jima, close to chichi-jima. ...	2015	25660696
salient features of otoacoustic emissions are common across tetrapod groups and suggest shared properties of generation mechanisms.	otoacoustic emissions (oaes) are faint sounds generated by healthy inner ears that provide a window into the study of auditory mechanics. all vertebrate classes exhibit oaes to varying degrees, yet the biophysical origins are still not well understood. here, we analyzed both spontaneous (soae) and stimulus-frequency (sfoae) otoacoustic emissions from a bird (barn owl, tyto alba) and a lizard (green anole, anolis carolinensis). these species possess highly disparate macromorphologies of the inner ...	2015	25737537
high-coverage sequencing and annotated assembly of the genome of the australian dragon lizard pogona vitticeps.	the lizards of the family agamidae are one of the most prominent elements of the australian reptile fauna. here, we present a genomic resource built on the basis of a wild-caught male zz central bearded dragon pogona vitticeps.	2015	26421146
analysis of the reptile cd1 genes: evolutionary implications.	cd1, as the third family of antigen-presenting molecules, is previously only found in mammals and chickens, which suggests that the chicken and mammalian cd1 shared a common ancestral gene emerging at least 310 million years ago. here, we describe cd1 genes in the green anole lizard and crocodylia, demonstrating that cd1 is ubiquitous in mammals, birds, and reptiles. although the reptilian cd1 protein structures are predicted to be similar to human cd1d and chicken cd1.1, cd1 isotypes are not fo ...	2015	25921705
karyotype reorganization in the hokou gecko (gekko hokouensis, gekkonidae): the process of microchromosome disappearance in gekkota.	the hokou gecko (gekko hokouensis: gekkonidae, gekkota, squamata) has the chromosome number 2n = 38, with no microchromosomes. for molecular cytogenetic characterization of the gekkotan karyotype, we constructed a cytogenetic map for g. hokouensis, which retains the ancestral karyotype of gekkota, with 86 functional genes, and compared it with cytogenetic maps for four toxicofera species that have many microchromosomes (elaphe quadrivirgata, varanus salvator macromaculatus, leiolepis reevesii ru ...	2015	26241471
herpetofaunal community change in multiple habitats after fifteen years in a southwest florida preserve, usa.	herpetofaunal declines have been documented globally, and southern florida, usa, is an especially vulnerable region because of high impacts from hydrological perturbations and nonindigenous species. to assess the extent of recent change in herpetofauna community composition, we established a baseline inventory during 1995-97 at a managed preserve in a habitat rich area of southwest florida, and repeated our sampling methods fifteen years later (2010-11). nine drift fence arrays were placed in fo ...	2015	26016475
the full globin repertoire of turtles provides insights into vertebrate globin evolution and functions.	globins are small heme proteins that play an important role in oxygen supply, but may also have other functions. globins offer a unique opportunity to study the functional evolution of genes and proteins. we have characterized the globin repertoire of two different turtle species: the chinese softshell turtle (pelodiscus sinensis) and the western painted turtle (chrysemys picta bellii). in the genomes of both species, we have identified eight distinct globin types: hemoglobin (hb), myoglobin, ne ...	2015	26078264
fixing formalin: a method to recover genomic-scale dna sequence data from formalin-fixed museum specimens using high-throughput sequencing.	for 150 years or more, specimens were routinely collected and deposited in natural history collections without preserving fresh tissue samples for genetic analysis. in the case of most herpetological specimens (i.e. amphibians and reptiles), attempts to extract and sequence dna from formalin-fixed, ethanol-preserved specimens-particularly for use in phylogenetic analyses-has been laborious and largely ineffective due to the highly fragmented nature of the dna. as a result, tens of thousands of s ...	2015	26505622
comparative expression of the four enamel matrix protein genes, amelogenin, ameloblastin, enamelin and amelotin during amelogenesis in the lizard anolis carolinensis.	in a recent study, we have demonstrated that amelotin (amtn) gene structure and its expression during amelogenesis have changed during tetrapod evolution. indeed, this gene is expressed throughout enamel matrix deposition and maturation in non-mammalian tetrapods, while in mammals its expression is restricted to the transition and maturation stages of amelogenesis. previous studies of amelogenin (amel) gene expression in a lizard and a salamander have shown similar expression pattern to that in ...	2015	26421144
development of the cloaca, hemipenes, and hemiclitores in the green anole, anolis carolinensis.	in most amniotes, the intromittent organ is a single phallus; however, squamates (lizards, snakes, and amphisbaenians) have paired hemiphalluses. all amniotes studied to date initiate external genital development with the formation of paired genital swellings. in mammals, archosaurs, and turtles, these swellings merge to form a single genital tubercle, the precursor of the penis and clitoris; however, in squamates, the paired genital buds remain separate, giving rise to the hemiphalluses (hemipe ...	2015	24960313
the incredible shrinking dewlap: signal size, skin elasticity, and mechanical design in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis).	the expression of male secondary sexual traits can be dynamic, changing size, shape, color, or structure over the course of different seasons. however, the factors underlying such changes are poorly understood. in male anolis carolinensis lizards, a morphological secondary sexual signal called the dewlap changes size seasonally within individuals. here, we test the hypothesis that seasonal changes in male dewlap size are driven by increased use and extension of the dewlap in spring and summer, w ...	2015	26664687
immunolocalization of large corneous beta-proteins in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) suggests that they form filaments that associate to the smaller beta-proteins in the beta-layer of the epidermis.	the distribution of large corneous beta-proteins of 18-43 kda (ac37, 39, and 40) in the epidermis of the lizard anolis carolinensis is unknown. this study analyses the localization of these beta-proteins in different body scales during regeneration. western blot analysis indicates most protein bands at 40-50 kda suggesting they mix with alpha-keratin of intermediate filament keratin proteins. ac37 is present in mature alpha-layers of most scales and in beta-cells of the outer scale surface in so ...	2015	26220876
sprint sensitivity and locomotor trade-offs in green anole (anolis carolinensis) lizards.	how well an organism completes an ecologically relevant task - its performance - is often considered a key factor in determining individual fitness. historically, ecomorphological studies have examined how morphological traits determine individual performance in a static manner, assuming that differential fitness in a population is due indirectly to differences in morphological traits that determine a simple measure of performance. this assumption, however, ignores many ecological factors that c ...	2015	26202776
low efficiency ido2 enzymes are conserved in lower vertebrates, whereas higher efficiency ido1 enzymes are dispensable.	indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (ido) is a trp-degrading enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the kynurenine pathway. two ido genes, ido1 and ido2, are found in vertebrates and the timing of the gene duplication giving rise to the genes has been controversial. in the present study, we report that several fishes and two turtles also have both ido1 and ido2. this represents definitive evidence for the gene duplication occurring before the divergence of vertebrates, with ido1 having been lost in a n ...	2015	25950090
immunocytochemical detection of beta-defensins and cathelicidins in the secretory granules of the tongue in the lizard anolis carolinensis.	previous molecular studies indicated that antimicrobial peptides in lizard are expressed in the skin and tongue among other epithelial organs. the present ultrastructural immunogold study aimed to detect the specific location of three broadly expressed antimicrobial peptides in the tongue of the lizard anolis carolinensis. the immunocytochemical study indicated that beta-defensin-15, the likely main defensin of granulocytes and skin, is poorly expressed in some dense and medium-dense granules of ...	2015	25744089
immunolocalization of loricrin in the maturing α-layer of normal and regenerating epidermis of the lizard anolis carolinensis.	numerous corneous proteins are produced during the differentiation of the complex lizard epidermis, comprising hard β-layers and softer α-layers. in the present ultrastructural and immunocytochemical study, we have localized a homolog of the mammalian skin barrier protein loricrin in the skin of the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis). we used an antibody specific to the carboxyterminus of loricrin 1, a gene of the epidermal differentiation complex (edc) of a. carolinensis. lizard loricrin ...	2015	25690302
making olympic lizards: the effects of specialised exercise training on performance.	exercise training is well known to affect a suite of physiological and performance traits in mammals, but effects of training in other vertebrate tetrapod groups have been inconsistent. we examined performance and physiological differences among green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis) that were trained for sprinting or endurance, using an increasingly rigorous training regimen over 8 weeks. lizards trained for endurance had significantly higher post-training endurance capacity compared with th ...	2015	25617462
hormonal regulation of steroid receptor coactivator-1 mrna in the male and female green anole brain.	green anole lizards are seasonal breeders, with male sexual behaviour primarily regulated by an annual increase in testosterone. morphological, biochemical and behavioural changes associated with reproduction are activated by testosterone, generally with a greater effect in the breeding season (bs) than in the nonbreeding season (nbs). the present study investigates the possibility that differences in a steroid receptor coactivator may regulate this seasonal difference in responsiveness to testo ...	2015	25557947
tail loss and narrow surfaces decrease locomotor stability in the arboreal green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis).	tails play an important role in dynamic stabilization during falling and jumping in lizards. yet tail autotomy (the voluntary loss of an appendage) is a common mechanism used for predator evasion in these animals. how tail autotomy has an impact on locomotor performance and stability remains poorly understood. the goal of this study was to determine how tail loss affects running kinematics and performance in the arboreal green anole lizard, anolis carolinensis. lizards were run along four surfac ...	2016	26596530
sexually dimorphic expression of creb binding protein in the green anole brain.	green anoles are seasonally breeding lizards in which male sexual behavior is primarily regulated by an annual increase in testosterone. this hormone activates stereotyped behaviors, as well as morphological and biochemical changes in the brain, with greater effect in the breeding season than in the non-breeding season. this study is the first description of creb binding protein (cbp) in the reptilian brain, and investigates the possibility that changes in cbp, an androgen receptor coactivator, ...	2016	26363452
diversification in wild populations of the model organism anolis carolinensis: a genome-wide phylogeographic investigation.	the green anole (anolis carolinensis) is a lizard widespread throughout the southeastern united states and is a model organism for the study of reproductive behavior, physiology, neural biology, and genomics. previous phylogeographic studies of a. carolinensis using mitochondrial dna and small numbers of nuclear loci identified conflicting and poorly supported relationships among geographically structured clades; these inconsistencies preclude confident use of a. carolinensis evolutionary histor ...	2016	27891220
climate-mediated adaptation after mainland colonization of an ancestrally subtropical island lizard, anolis carolinensis.	climate-mediated evolution plays an integral role in species migration and range expansion. gaining a clearer understanding of how climate affects demographic history and adaptation provides fundamental insight into the generation of intra- and interspecific diversity. in this study, we used the natural colonization of the green anole (anolis carolinensis) from the island of cuba to mainland north america to investigate the role of evolution at the niche, phenotypic and genetic levels after long ...	2016	27384884
review: mapping epidermal beta-protein distribution in the lizard anolis carolinensis shows a specific localization for the formation of scales, pads, and claws.	the epidermis of lizards is made of multiple alpha- and beta-layers with different characteristics comprising alpha-keratins and corneous beta-proteins (formerly beta-keratins). three main modifications of body scales are present in the lizard anolis carolinensis: gular scales, adhesive pad lamellae, and claws. the 40 corneous beta-proteins present in this specie comprise glycine-rich and glycine-cysteine-rich subfamilies, while the 41 alpha-keratins comprise cysteine-poor and cysteine-rich subf ...	2016	26597267
evolutionary dynamics of anolis sex chromosomes revealed by sequencing of flow sorting-derived microchromosome-specific dna.	squamate reptiles show a striking diversity in modes of sex determination, including both genetic (xy or zw) and temperature-dependent sex determination systems. the genomes of only a handful of species have been sequenced, analyzed and assembled including the genome of anolis carolinensis. despite a high genome coverage, only macrochromosomes of a. carolinensis were assembled whereas the content of most microchromosomes remained unclear. most of the anolis species have homomorphic xy sex chromo ...	2016	27431992
lizard tail skeletal regeneration combines aspects of fracture healing and blastema-based regeneration.	lizards are amniotes with the remarkable ability to regenerate amputated tails. the early regenerated lizard tail forms a blastema, and the regenerated skeleton consists of a cartilage tube (ct) surrounding the regenerated spinal cord. the proximal, but not distal, ct undergoes hypertrophy and ossifies. we hypothesized that differences in cell sources and signaling account for divergent cartilage development between proximal and distal ct regions. exogenous spinal cord implants induced ectopic c ...	2016	27387871
evolution of ifn-λ in tetrapod vertebrates and its functional characterization in green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis).	ifn-λ (ifnl), i.e. type iii ifn genes were found in a conserved gene locus in tetrapod vertebrates. but, a unique locus containing ifnl was found in avian. in turtle and crocodile, ifnl genes were distributed in these two separate loci. as revealed in phylogenetic trees, ifn-λs in these two different loci and other amniotes were grouped into two different clades. the conservation in gene presence and gene locus was also observed for the receptors of ifn-λ, ifn-λr1 and il-10rb in tetrapods. it is ...	2016	27062970
the anolis lizard genome: an amniote genome without isochores?	two articles published 5 years ago concluded that the genome of the lizard anolis carolinensis is an amniote genome without isochores. this claim was apparently contradicting previous results on the general presence of an isochore organization in all vertebrate genomes tested (including anolis). in this investigation, we demonstrate that the anolis genome is indeed heterogeneous in base composition, since its macrochromosomes comprise isochores mainly from the l2 and h1 families (a moderately gc ...	2016	26992416
contrasting patterns of evolutionary diversification in the olfactory repertoires of reptile and bird genomes.	olfactory receptors (ors) are membrane proteins that mediate the detection of odorants in the environment, and are the largest vertebrate gene family. comparative studies of mammalian genomes indicate that or repertoires vary widely, even between closely related lineages, as a consequence of frequent or gains and losses. several studies also suggest that mammalian or repertoires are influenced by life history traits. sauropsida is a diverse group of vertebrates group that is the sister group to ...	2016	26865070
insights into the evolution of a snake venom multi-gene family from the genomic organization of echis ocellatus svmp genes.	the molecular events underlying the evolution of the snake venom metalloproteinase (svmp) family from an a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (adam) ancestor remain poorly understood. comparative genomics may provide decisive information to reconstruct the evolutionary history of this multi-locus toxin family. here, we report the genomic organization of echis ocellatus genes encoding svmps from the pii and pi classes. comparisons between them and between these genes and the genomic structures of ...	2016	27420095
improved prediction of non-methylated islands in vertebrates highlights different characteristic sequence patterns.	non-methylated islands (nmis) of dna are genomic regions that are important for gene regulation and development. a recent study of genome-wide non-methylation data in vertebrates by long et al. (elife 2013;2:e00348) has shown that many experimentally identified non-methylated regions do not overlap with classically defined cpg islands which are computationally predicted using simple dna sequence features. this is especially true in cold-blooded vertebrates such as danio rerio (zebrafish). in ord ...	2016	27984582
postembryonic nephrogenesis and persistence of six2-expressing nephron progenitor cells in the reptilian kidney.	new nephron formation (nephrogenesis) ceases in mammals around birth and is completely absent in adults. in contrast, postembryonic nephrogenesis is well documented in the mesonephric kidneys of fishes and amphibians. the transient mesonephros in reptiles (including birds) and mammals is replaced by the metanephros during embryogenesis. thus, one may speculate that postembryonic nephrogenesis is restricted to the mesonephric kidney. previous reports have suggested the metanephros of non-avian re ...	2016	27144443
reptile toll-like receptor 5 unveils adaptive evolution of bacterial flagellin recognition.	toll-like receptors (tlr) are ancient innate immune receptors crucial for immune homeostasis and protection against infection. tlrs are present in mammals, birds, amphibians and fish but have not been functionally characterized in reptiles despite the central position of this animal class in vertebrate evolution. here we report the cloning, characterization, and function of tlr5 of the reptile anolis carolinensis (green anole lizard). the receptor (actlr5) displays the typical tlr protein archit ...	2016	26738735
a comprehensive analysis of the phylogeny, genomic organization and expression of immunoglobulin light chain genes in alligator sinensis, an endangered reptile species.	crocodilians are evolutionarily distinct reptiles that are distantly related to lizards and are thought to be the closest relatives of birds. compared with birds and mammals, few studies have investigated the ig light chain of crocodilians. here, employing an alligator sinensis genomic bacterial artificial chromosome (bac) library and available genome data, we characterized the genomic organization of the alligator sinensis igl gene loci. the alligator sinensis has two igl isotypes, λ and κ, the ...	2016	26901135
prevalence of klebsiella oxytoca in anolis carolensis of louisiana.	klebsiella oxytoca is a gram-negative bacterium that can be found throughout the environment as well as on mucosal membranes of mammals including humans. this bacterium is responsible for a variety of infections in humans including nosocomial infections resulting in hospital outbreaks. reptiles including snakes, tuataras, and turtles have been shown to harbor this bacterium, and previous studies have shown that pet reptiles are a potential source for dissemination of pathogenic bacteria. green a ...	2016	27779443
anchoring genome sequence to chromosomes of the central bearded dragon (pogona vitticeps) enables reconstruction of ancestral squamate macrochromosomes and identifies sequence content of the z chromosome.	squamates (lizards and snakes) are a speciose lineage of reptiles displaying considerable karyotypic diversity, particularly among lizards. understanding the evolution of this diversity requires comparison of genome organisation between species. although the genomes of several squamate species have now been sequenced, only the green anole lizard has any sequence anchored to chromosomes. there is only limited gene mapping data available for five other squamates. this makes it difficult to reconst ...	2016	27286959
tandem amino acid repeats in the green anole (anolis carolinensis) and other squamates may have a role in increasing genetic variability.	tandem amino acid repeats are characterised by the consecutive recurrence of a single amino acid. they exhibit high rates of length mutations in addition to point mutations and have been proposed to be involved in genetic plasticity. squamate reptiles (lizards and snakes) diversify in both morphology and physiology. the underlying mechanism is yet to be understood. in a previous phylogenomic analysis of reptiles, the density of tandem repeats in an anole lizard diverged heavily from that of the ...	2016	26868501
synuclein expression in the lizard anolis carolinensis.	the synuclein (syn) family comprises three proteins: α-, β- and γ-syns. in humans, they are involved in neurodegenerative diseases such as parkinson's disease and in tumors. members of the syn family were sequenced in representative species of all vertebrates and the comparative analysis of amino acid sequences suggests that syns are evolutionarily conserved, but information about their expression in vertebrate lineages is still scarce and completely lacking in reptiles. in this study, the expre ...	2016	27393691
differential expression of conserved and novel micrornas during tail regeneration in the lizard anolis carolinensis.	lizards are evolutionarily the most closely related vertebrates to humans that can lose and regrow an entire appendage. regeneration in lizards involves differential expression of hundreds of genes that regulate wound healing, musculoskeletal development, hormonal response, and embryonic morphogenesis. while micrornas are able to regulate large groups of genes, their role in lizard regeneration has not been investigated.	2016	27150582
convergent origination of a drosophila-like dosage compensation mechanism in a reptile lineage.	sex chromosomes differentiated from different ancestral autosomes in various vertebrate lineages. here, we trace the functional evolution of the xy chromosomes of the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis), on the basis of extensive high-throughput genome, transcriptome and histone modification sequencing data and revisit dosage compensation evolution in representative mammals and birds with substantial new expression data. our analyses show that anolis sex chromosomes represent an ancient xy ...	2017	29133310
evolution of vertebrate ryanodine receptors family in relation to functional divergence and conservation.	ryanodine receptors (ryrs), the large homotetrameric protein complexes, regulate the release of calcium from intracellular stores into the cytosol and play vital roles in the excitation-contraction coupling of cells. however, the evolutionary relationship of ryrs in vertebrates has yet to be elucidated. we identified 22 ryrs from homo sapiens, mus musculus, rattus norvegicus, gallus gallus, anolis carolinensis, rana catesbeiana, and danio rerio. the phylogenetic relationship, motifs analysis and ...	2017	29151485
requirement of extracellular ca(2+) binding to specific amino acids for heat-evoked activation of trpa1.	we found that extracellular ca(2+) , but not other divalent cations (mg(2+) and ba(2+) ) or intracellular ca(2+) , is involved in heat-evoked activation of green anole (ga) trpa1. heat-evoked activation of chicken (ch) and rat snake (rs) trpa1 does not depend solely on extracellular ca(2+) . neutralization of acidic amino acids on the outer surface of trpa1 by extracellular ca(2+) is important for heat-evoked large activation of gatrpa1, chtrpa1 and rstrpa1.	2017	28194754
getprime 2.0: gene- and transcript-specific qpcr primers for 13 species including polymorphisms.	getprime (http://bbcftools.epfl.ch/getprime) is a database with a web frontend providing gene- and transcript-specific, pre-computed qpcr primer pairs. the primers have been optimized for genome-wide specificity and for allowing the selective amplification of one or several splice variants of most known genes. to ease selection, primers have also been ranked according to defined criteria such as genome-wide specificity (with blast), amplicon size, and isoform coverage. here, we report a major up ...	2017	28053161
visual acuity and signal color pattern in an anolis lizard.	anolis lizards communicate with colorful dewlaps that often include detailed patterns. we measured the visual acuity of anolis sagrei. lizards viewed a checkerboard pattern of red and yellow-green squares that were too small to resolve, and thus appeared uniform in color. we quickly replaced the center portion of the display with a pattern of larger squares. if the new pattern could be resolved, the lizards perceived a change in color and reflexively shifted gaze toward the target. the acuity th ...	2017	28385798
the complete mitochondrial genome of lacerta bilineata and comparison with its closely related congener l. viridis.	we sequenced the mitochondrial genome of the western green lizard (lacerta bilineata) using illumina technology and additional sanger sequencing. the assembled 17 086 bp mitogenome had a gc content of 40.32% and consisted of 13 protein-coding genes, 22 trna genes, two rrna genes, and one control region (cr), with a gene order identical to the chordate consensus. in addition, we re-sequenced the mitogenome of the closely related eastern green lizard l. viridis using the same techniques as for l. ...	2017	26709540
identification and characterization of a class of malat1-like genomic loci.	the malat1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) gene encodes a noncoding rna that is processed into a long nuclear retained transcript (malat1) and a small cytoplasmic trna-like transcript (mascrna). using an rna sequence- and structure-based covariance model, we identified more than 130 genomic loci in vertebrate genomes containing the malat1 3' end triple-helix structure and its immediate downstream trna-like structure, including 44 in the green lizard anolis carolinensis. ...	2017	28538188
phylogenetic analyses reveal that schellackia parasites (apicomplexa) detected in american lizards are closely related to the genus lankesterella: is the range of schellackia restricted to the old world?	species of schellackia reichenow, 1919 have been described from the blood of reptiles distributed worldwide. recently, schellackia spp. detected in european and asian lizards have been molecularly characterised. however, parasites detected in american lizard hosts remain uncharacterised. thus, phylogenetic affinities between the old and new world parasite species are unknown.	2017	29017602
local and systemic immune responses to different types of phytohemagglutinin in the green anole: lessons for field ecoimmunologists.	the phytohemagglutinin (pha) skin test is commonly used by ecologists to assess cell-mediated immune function of wild animals. it can be performed quickly and easily in the field, involving injection of pha and measurement of the resultant swelling. there are multiple formulations of pha used in ecological studies, with potentially differing outcomes that could produce inconsistent results. we tested two common types of pha in the green anole (anolis carolinensis) to identify local and systemic ...	2017	29356446
inferring evolutionary responses of anolis carolinensis introduced into the ogasawara archipelago using whole genome sequence data.	invaded species often can rapidly expand and establish in novel environments through adaptive evolution, resulting in devastating effects on native communities. however, it is unclear if genetic variation at whole-genomic levels is actually reduced in the introduced populations and which genetic changes have occurred responding to adaptation to new environments. in the 1960s, anolis carolinensis was introduced onto one of the ogasawara islands, japan, and subsequently expanded its range rapidly ...	2017	29269734
immunocytological analysis of meiotic recombination in two anole lizards (squamata, dactyloidae).	although the evolutionary importance of meiotic recombination is not disputed, the significance of interspecies differences in the recombination rates and recombination landscapes remains under-appreciated. recombination rates and distribution of chiasmata have been examined cytologically in many mammalian species, whereas data on other vertebrates are scarce. immunolocalization of the protein of the synaptonemal complex (sycp3), centromere proteins and the mismatch-repair protein mlh1 was used, ...	2017	28919954
winter storms drive rapid phenotypic, regulatory, and genomic shifts in the green anole lizard.	extreme environmental perturbations offer opportunities to observe the effects of natural selection in wild populations. during the winter of 2013-2014, the southeastern united states endured an extreme cold event. we used thermal performance, transcriptomics, and genome scans to measure responses of lizard populations to storm-induced selection. we found significant increases in cold tolerance at the species' southern limit. gene expression in southern survivors shifted toward patterns characte ...	2017	28774927
factors restricting the range expansion of the invasive green anole anolis carolinensis on okinawa island, japan.	the green anole anolis carolinensis invaded the ogasawara islands in japan, drove various native species to extinction, and its distribution expanded 14 years after initial establishment. a. carolinensis invaded okinawa island, but it has not expanded its distribution in more than 25 years, although its density is extremely high in the southern region. to determine whether a. carolinensis has the potential to expand its distribution on okinawa island, we performed phylogenetic analysis of mitoch ...	2017	28649347
line insertion polymorphisms are abundant but at low frequencies across populations of anolis carolinensis.	vertebrate genomes differ considerably in size and structure. among the features that show the most variation is the abundance of long interspersed nuclear elements (lines). mammalian genomes contain 100,000s lines that belong to a single clade, l1, and in most species a single family is usually active at a time. in contrast, non-mammalian vertebrates (fish, amphibians and reptiles) contain multiple active families, belonging to several clades, but each of them is represented by a small number o ...	2017	28450881
cystic calculus in a laboratory-housed green anole (anolis carolinensis).	an adult, male, wild-caught, laboratory-housed green anole (anolis carolinensis) on a locomotor performance study was presented for anorexia. the anole exhibited a 26% weight loss and a thin body condition but was otherwise alert and active. despite supportive care, the anole's clinical condition deteriorated, necessitating euthanasia. postmortem examination revealed a 4.5 mm × 2.5-mm cystic calculus, which consisted entirely of sodium urate. here we describe the clinical findings and locomotor ...	2017	28381311
identification and comparative analysis of the epidermal differentiation complex in snakes.	the epidermis of snakes efficiently protects against dehydration and mechanical stress. however, only few proteins of the epidermal barrier to the environment have so far been identified in snakes. here, we determined the organization of the epidermal differentiation complex (edc), a cluster of genes encoding protein constituents of cornified epidermal structures, in snakes and compared it to the edcs of other squamates and non-squamate reptiles. the edc of snakes displays shared synteny with th ...	2017	28345630
heteromorphism of "homomorphic" sex chromosomes in two anole species (squamata, dactyloidae) revealed by synaptonemal complex analysis.	iguanians (pleurodonta) are one of the reptile lineages that, like birds and mammals, have sex chromosomes of ancient origin. in most iguanians these are microchromosomes, making a distinction between the x and y as well as between homeologous sex chromosomes in other species difficult. meiotic chromosome analysis may be used to elucidate their differentiation, because meiotic prophase chromosomes are longer and less condensed than metaphase chromosomes, and the homologues are paired with each o ...	2017	28315859
evolution of dosage compensation in anolis carolinensis, a reptile with xx/xy chromosomal sex determination.	in species with highly heteromorphic sex chromosomes, the degradation of one of the sex chromosomes will result in unequal gene expression between the sexes (e.g. between xx females and xy males) and between the sex chromosomes and the autosomes. dosage compensation is a process whereby genes on the sex chromosomes achieve equal gene expression. we compared genome-wide levels of transcription between males and females, and between the x chromosome and the autosomes in the green anole, anolis car ...	2017	28206607
the effects of dopamine receptor 1 and 2 agonists and antagonists on sexual and aggressive behaviors in male green anoles.	the propensity to exhibit social behaviors during interactions with same-sex and opposite-sex conspecifics is modulated by various neurotransmitters, including dopamine. dopamine is a conserved neurotransmitter among vertebrates and dopaminergic receptors are also highly conserved among taxa. activation of d1 and d2 dopamine receptor subtypes has been shown to modulate social behaviors, especially in mammalian and avian studies. however, the specific behavioral functions of these receptors vary ...	2017	28187160
exercise training reveals trade-offs between endurance performance and immune function, but does not influence growth, in juvenile lizards.	acquired energetic resources allocated to a particular trait cannot then be re-allocated to a different trait. this often results in a trade-off between survival and reproduction for the adults of many species, but such a trade-off may be manifested differently in juveniles not yet capable of reproduction. whereas adults may allocate resources to current and/or future reproduction, juveniles can only allocate to future reproduction. thus, juveniles should allocate resources toward traits that in ...	2017	28167809
weathering in soil increases nanoparticle cuo bioaccumulation within a terrestrial food chain.	this study evaluates the bioaccumulation of unweathered (u) and weathered (w) cuo in np, bulk and ionic form (0-400 mg/kg) by lettuce exposed for 70 d in soil co-contaminated with field incurred chlordane. to evaluate cuo trophic transfer, leaves were fed to crickets (acheta domestica) for 15 d, followed by insect feeding to lizards (anolis carolinensis). upon weathering, the root cu content of the np treatment increased 214% (327 ± 59.1 mg/kg) over unaged treatment. cu root content decreased in ...	2017	28024451
effects of acute exposures of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and inorganic lead on the fecal microbiome of the green anole (anolis carolinensis).	microbiome studies focused on ecologically relevant vertebrate models like reptiles have been limited. because of their relatively small home range, fast maturation, and high fecundity, lizards are an excellent reptilian terrestrial indicator species. for this study we used the green anole, anolis carolinensis, to assess the impact of military relevant contaminants on fecal microbiome composition. fourteen day sub-acute exposures were conducted via oral gavage with 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (tnt) an ...	2018	30521592
anolis carolinensis as a model to understand the molecular and cellular basis of foveal development.	the fovea is an anatomical specialization of the central retina containing closely packed cone-photoreceptors providing an area of high acuity vision in humans and primates. despite its key role in the clarity of vision, little is known about the molecular and cellular basis of foveal development, due to the absence of a foveal structure in commonly used laboratory animal models. of the amniotes the retina in birds of prey and some reptiles do exhibit a typical foveal structure, but they have no ...	2018	29775563
differential effect of selection against line retrotransposons among vertebrates inferred from whole-genome data and demographic modeling.	variation in line composition is one of the major determinants for the substantial size and structural differences among vertebrate genomes. in particular, the larger genomes of mammals are characterized by hundreds of thousands of copies from a single line clade, l1, whereas nonmammalian vertebrates possess a much greater diversity of lines, yet with orders of magnitude less in copy number. it has been proposed that such variation in copy number among vertebrates is due to differential effect o ...	2018	29688421
evolutionary regression and species-specific codon usage of tlr15.	toll-like receptors (tlrs) form an ancient family of innate immune receptors that detect microbial structures and activate the host immune response. most subfamilies of tlrs (including tlr3, tlr5, and tlr7) are highly conserved among vertebrate species. in contrast, tlr15, a member of the tlr1 subfamily, appears to be unique to birds and reptiles. we investigated the functional evolution of tlr15. phylogenetic and synteny analyses revealed putative tlr15 orthologs in bird species, several reptil ...	2018	30483270
seasonal regulation of steroidogenic enzyme expression within the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) brain and gonad.	steroid hormones, such as testosterone and estradiol, are necessary for reproductive behavior. seasonally breeding animals have increased sex steroid hormone levels during the breeding compared to non-breeding season, with increased reproductive behaviors and altered brain morphology in breeding individuals. similar to other seasonally breeding animals, green anole lizards (anolis carolinensis) have high sex steroid hormone levels and increased reproductive behaviors in the breeding season. rela ...	2018	30077794
plasticity and local adaptation explain lizard cold tolerance.	how does climate variation limit the range of species and what does it take for species to colonize new regions? in this issue of molecular ecology, campbell-staton et al. () address these broad questions by investigating cold tolerance adaptation in the green anole lizard (anolis carolinensis) across a latitudinal transect. by integrating physiological data, gene expression data and acclimation experiments, the authors disentangle the mechanisms underlying cold adaptation. they first establish ...	2018	29737602
replacement of arg with nle and modified d-phe in the core sequence of mshs, ac-his-d-phe-arg-trp-nh2, leads to hmc1r selectivity and pigmentation.	melanoma skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in the us [1]. a great need exists for improved formulations and mechanisms to prevent and protect human skin from cancers and other skin damage caused by sunlight exposure. current efforts to prevent uv damage to human skin, which in many cases leads to melanoma and other skin cancers. the primordial melanocortin-1 receptor (mc1r) is involved in regulating skin pigmentation and hair color, which is a natural prevention from uv damage. the endog ...	2018	29679901