Introduction of Aequorin into Zebrafish Embryos for Recording Ca(2+) Signaling during the First 48 h of Development
- Authors
- Webb, S.E., Chan, C.M., and Miller, A.L.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-130605-8
- Date
- 2013
- Source
- Cold Spring Harbor protocols 2013(5): 383-6 (Review)
- Registered Authors
- Miller, Andrew L., Webb, Sarah E.
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Aequorin/genetics*
- Aequorin/metabolism
- Animals
- Calcium/metabolism*
- Developmental Biology/methods*
- Embryo, Nonmammalian
- Genes, Reporter*
- Luminescent Measurements
- Signal Transduction*
- Staining and Labeling/methods
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/growth & development
- Zebrafish/physiology
- PubMed
- 23637358 Full text @ Cold Spring Harb. Protoc.
Ca2+ signals, whether transient pulses, propagating waves, or long-duration, steady gradients, are generally considered to play an important role in the pattern-forming events that occur during vertebrate development. One vertebrate that has long been a favorite of embryologists because of its ex utero development and the optical clarity of its embryos is the zebrafish, Danio rerio. Using the bioluminescent Ca2+ reporter aequorin, distinct Ca2+ signals have been reported for at least the first 48 h of zebrafish development, with signals becoming progressively more complex as the embryo develops. Here we provide a general introduction to aequorin and its use in monitoring Ca2+ signals and discuss methods for introducing aequorin into zebrafish embryos.