Figure 1.

Eumelanin synthesis pathway and gene duplications in vertebrates. Eumelanin is synthesized from tyrosine within the melanosome of melanophores. This requires members of the Tyrosinase family (TYR, DCT, TYRP1) and probably Silver (SILV). Three melanosomal transporters (OCA2, AIM1 and SLC24A5) are crucial for proper melanin synthesis. Red indicates duplications during the fish-specific genome duplication.