PUBLICATION

Cytoskeletal and cellular adhesion proteins in zebrafish (Danio rerio) myogenesis

Authors
Costa, M.L., Escaleira, R., Manasfi, M., Souza, L.F., and Mermelstein, C.S.
ID
ZDB-PUB-030730-6
Date
2003
Source
Brazilian journal of medical and biological research = Revista brasileira de pesquisas medicas e biologicas   36(8): 1117-1120 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Costa, Manoel Luis, Escaleira, Roberta, Mermelstein, Claudia
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion/physiology*
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins/metabolism*
  • Muscle Development/physiology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
12886467 Full text @ Braz. J. Med. Biol. Res.
Abstract
The current myogenesis and myofibrillogenesis model has been based mostly on in vitro cell culture studies, and, to a lesser extent, on in situ studies in avian and mammalian embryos. While the more isolated artificial conditions of cells in culture permitted careful structural analysis, the actual in situ cellular structures have not been described in detail because the embryos are more difficult to section and manipulate. To overcome these difficulties, we used the optically clear and easy to handle embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio. We monitored the expression of cytoskeletal and cell-adhesion proteins (actin, myosin, desmin, alpha-actinin, troponin, titin, vimentin and vinculin) using immunofluorescence microscopy and video-enhanced, background-subtracted, differential interference contrast of 24- to 48-h zebrafish embryos. In the mature myotome, the mononucleated myoblasts displayed periodic striations for all sarcomeric proteins tested. The changes in desmin distribution from aggregates to perinuclear and striated forms, although following the same sequence, occurred much faster than in other models. All desmin-positive cells were also positive for myofibrillar proteins and striated, in contrast to that which occurs in cell cultures. Vimentin appeared to be striated in mature cells, while it is developmentally down-regulated in vitro. The whole connective tissue septum between the somites was positive for adhesion proteins such as vinculin, instead of the isolated adhesion plaques observed in cell cultures. The differences in the myogenesis of zebrafish in situ and in cell culture in vitro suggest that some of the previously observed structures and protein distributions in cultures could be methodological artifacts.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping