Data from: A molecular mechanism for bright color variation in parrots

Parrots produce stunning plumage colors through unique pigments called
psittacofulvins. However, the mechanism underlying their ability to
generate a spectrum of vibrant yellows, reds, and greens remains
enigmatic. Here, we uncover a unifying chemical basis for a wide range of
parrot plumage colors, which result from the selective deposition of red
aldehyde- and yellow carboxyl-containing psittacofulvin molecules in
developing feathers. Through genetic mapping, biochemical assays, and
single-cell genomics, we identified a critical player in this process, the
aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH3A2, which oxidizes aldehyde psittacofulvins
into carboxyl forms in late-differentiating keratinocytes during feather
development. The simplicity of the underlying molecular mechanism — in
which a single enzyme influences the balance of red and yellow pigments —
offers an explanation for the exceptional evolutionary lability of parrot
coloration.