近日，郑州大学Zhaohui Yang等研究人员合作发现，日晒能力减弱是东亚人皮肤美白演化的一个重要机制。相关论文于2024年3月8日发表于国际学术期刊《遗传学报》。

研究人员表示，欧亚人皮肤色素浅的演化被认为是对高纬度环境的适应。由于东亚环境复杂，东亚人是研究肤色演化的理想人群。

附：英文原文

Title: Weakened tanning ability is an important mechanism for evolutionary skin lightening in East Asians

Author: anonymous

Issue&Volume: 2024/03/08

Abstract: The evolution of light skin pigmentation among Eurasians is considered an adaptation to the high-latitude environments. East Asians are ideal populations for studying skin color evolution because of the complex environment of East Asia. Here, we report a strong selection signal for the pigmentation gene PAH in light-skinned Han Chinese individuals. The intron mutation rs10778203 in PAH was enriched in East Asians and significantly associated with skin color of the back of the hand in Han Chinese males (P <0.05). In vitro luciferase and transcription factor binding assays showed that the ancestral allele of rs10778203 could bind to SMAD2 and has significant enhancer activity for PAH. However, the derived T allele (the major allele in East Asians) of rs10778203 decreases the binding activity of transcription factors and enhancer activity. Meanwhile, the derived T allele of rs10778203 showed a weaker ultraviolet radiation response in A375 cells and zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, rs10778203 decreases melanin production in transgenic zebrafish embryos after UVB treatment. Collectively, PAH is a potential pigmentation gene that regulates skin tanning ability. Natural selection has enriched the adaptive allele, resulting in weakened tanning ability in East Asians, suggesting a unique genetic mechanism for evolutionary skin lightening in East Asians.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2024.03.001

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1673852724000389