PUBLICATION
Zebrafish cx30.3: Identification and characterization of a gap junction gene highly expressed in the skin
- Authors
- Tao, L., Derosa, A.M., White, T.W., and Valdimarsson, G.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-100826-27
- Date
- 2010
- Source
- Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 239(10): 2627-2636 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Valdimarsson, Gunnar
- Keywords
- connexin, gap junction, zebrafish, embryo, skin, inner ear
- MeSH Terms
-
- Phylogeny
- Transcription Initiation Site
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Ear, Inner/embryology
- Ear, Inner/metabolism
- PubMed
- 20737512 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Abstract
We have identified and characterized a zebrafish connexin, Cx30.3. Sequence similarity analyses suggested that Cx30.3 was orthologous to both mammalian Cx26 and Cx30, known to play important roles in the skin and inner ear of mammals. Analysis of mRNA expression showed that Cx30.3 was present in early embryos, and was highly abundant in skin, but also detected in other tissues including fins, inner ear, heart, and the retina. Injection of Cx30.3 cRNA into Xenopus oocytes elicited robust intercellular coupling with voltage gating sensitivity similar to mammalian Cx26 and Cx30. The similarities in functional properties and expression patterns suggest that Cx30.3, like mammalian Cx26 and Cx30, may play a significant role in skin development, hearing, and balance in zebrafish. Thus, zebrafish could potentially serve as an excellent model to study disorders of the skin and deafness that result from human connexin mutations.
Genes / Markers
Figure Gallery (3 images)
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping