Expression of sclerostin in the developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain and skeleton
- Authors
- McNulty, M.S., Bedell, V.M., Greenwood, T.M., Craig, T.A., Ekker, S.C., and Kumar, R.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-120514-12
- Date
- 2012
- Source
- Gene expression patterns : GEP 12(7-8): 228-235 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Bedell, Victoria, Ekker, Stephen C.
- Keywords
- sclerostin, Sost, skeleton, cartilage, brain
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Bone and Bones/embryology
- Bone and Bones/metabolism*
- Brain/embryology
- Brain/metabolism*
- Cartilage/embryology
- Cartilage/metabolism*
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Glycoproteins/genetics*
- Glycoproteins/metabolism
- In Situ Hybridization
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Organ Specificity
- Phylogeny
- Transcription, Genetic
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- PubMed
- 22575304 Full text @ Gene Expr. Patterns
Sclerostin is a highly conserved, secreted, cystine-knot protein which regulates osteoblast function. Humans with mutations in the sclerostin gene (sost), manifest increased axial and appendicular skeletal bone density with attendant complications. In adult bone, sclerostin is expressed in osteocytes and osteoblasts. Danio rerio sclerostin-like protein is closely related to sea bass sclerostin, and is related to chicken and mammalian sclerostins. Little is known about the expression of sclerostin in early developing skeletal or extra-skeletal tissues. We assessed sclerostin (sost) gene expression in developing zebrafish (D. rerio) embryos with whole mount is situ hybridization methods. The earliest expression of sost RNA was noted during 12 h post-fertilization (hpf). At 15 hpf, sost RNA was detected in the developing nervous system and in Kupffer’s vesicle. At 18, 20 and 22 hpf, expression in rhombic lip precursors was seen. By 24 hpf, expression in the upper and lower rhombic lip and developing spinal cord was noted. Expression in the rhombic lip and spinal cord persisted through 28 hpf and then diminished in intensity through 44 hpf. At 28 hpf, sost expression was noted in developing pharyngeal cartilage; expression in pharyngeal cartilage increased with time. By 48 hpf, sost RNA was clearly detected in the developing pharyngeal arch cartilage. Sost RNA was abundantly expressed in the pharyngeal arch cartilage, and in developing pectoral fins, 72, 96 and 120 hpf. Our study is the first detailed analysis of sost gene expression in early metazoan development.