Figure 4. The leo and luc phenotypes arise during metamorphosis.
In wild-type dense iridophores of consecutively formed interstripes become visible during stages PR (A), J (F), and J++ (K). Melanophores appear in the stripe regions. In luc loss-of-function (B, G, L), leot1 (C, H, M), luctXG1 (D, I, N), and leotK3 mutants (E, J, O) iridophores of the first interstripe form normally at stage PR (B–E), however, the melanophores ventral to the first interstripe are more scattered. In the mutants at stage J (G–J) the second interstripe fails to form in the ventral region where dense iridophores appear in irregular positions. Later at stage J++ irregular stripes and spots become visible in luc loss-of-function and leot1 mutants (L and M), in luctXG1 and leotK3 mutants (N and O) the number of melanophores is low and dense iridophores cover increasing areas on the flank of the fish. Scale bars: 0.25 mm.