β-Keratin composition of the specialized spectacle scale of snakes and geckos

Canadian Journal of Zoology, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page 299-307, e-First articles.

The eyes of snakes and most geckos are shielded beneath a layer of transparent skin (the “spectacle”), of which the outermost layer consists of an optically transparent scale. The characteristics of the spectacle scale that contribute to its transparency are not well understood but may conceivably be related to its biochemical composition. The composition of the spectacle scales of numerous snakes and two geckos was analyzed with particular focus on β-keratins, the hard proteins that form the outermost layer of squamate scales, to determine whether spectacle scales differ biochemically from other scales and whether they differ between species. Results indicate that the spectacle scale of snakes differs in the types of β-keratins it contains and that diversity in spectacle β-keratins occurs between species and bears a relationship with taxonomy, suggesting that optical transparency is not restricted to a few isoforms. Other findings include a greater β-keratin to α-keratin ratio in the embryonic spectacle of pythons compared with those from after hatch and a complete absence of β-keratin in gecko spectacle scales, an unusual characteristic for squamate integument. Expression of β-keratins in the spectacle has clearly evolved for needs specific to this specialized region of the integument.

Source: Canadian Journal of Zoology - March 27, 2014 Category: Zoology Tags: article Source Type: research