Chromatophores as Tools for the Study of Organelle Transport

Chromatophores are pigmented cells found in a variety of animals. In lower vertebrates, i.e., fish and amphibia, chromatophores are present in the dermis, and in response to various stimuli, the pigment in these cells is transported to or from the cell center, conferring upon the cell a light or dark appearance, respectively. Changes in the distribution of pigment permit the animal to display variations in coloration which are used for territorial or sexual display and for camouflage. While color change is an important component of animal behavior, these cells have been exploited for cell biological studies, providing an excellent model system for examination of mechanisms generating and regulating organelle transport (1 ).