PUBLICATION

Connexin48.5 is required for normal cardiovascular function and lens development in zebrafish embryos

Authors
Cheng, S., Shakespeare, T., Mui, R., White, T.W., and Valdimarsson, G.
ID
ZDB-PUB-040625-11
Date
2004
Source
The Journal of biological chemistry   279(35): 36993-37003 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Valdimarsson, Gunnar
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular System/embryology
  • Chickens
  • Connexins/metabolism
  • Connexins/physiology*
  • Gene Library
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Lens, Crystalline/embryology*
  • Lens, Crystalline/metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotides/chemistry
  • Oocytes/metabolism
  • RNA, Complementary/metabolism
  • Rats
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Testis/metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Xenopus
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
PubMed
15213236 Full text @ J. Biol. Chem.
Abstract
Gap junctions are composed of connexin (Cx) proteins and mediate intercellular communication required for many developmental and physiological processes. Here we describe the isolation and characterization of Cx48.5, a zebrafish connexin with the highest sequence identity to mammalian Cx46. Expression analysis showed that Cx48.5 is expressed in the adult and embryonic lens and heart, adult testis, and transiently in the embryonic otic vesicles. Injection of Cx48.5 cRNA into Xenopus oocytes elicited intercellular electrical coupling with voltage sensitivity similar to mammalian Cx46. In single oocytes, Cx48.5 also induced large outward currents on depolarization, consistent with gap-junctional hemichannels. Disruption of Cx48.5 expression in embryos with antisense morpholino oligos (morpholinos) revealed that Cx48.5 has an essential role in the maintenance of lens homeostasis. The morpholino treated embryos also developed small lenses and eyes, as well as severe cardiovascular abnormalities.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping