PUBLICATION

Gain-of-function mutations of mau/DrAqp3a influence zebrafish pigment pattern formation through the tissue environment

Authors
Eskova, A., Chauvigné, F., Maischein, H.M., Ammelburg, M., Cerdà, J., Nüsslein-Volhard, C., Irion, U.
ID
ZDB-PUB-170517-10
Date
2017
Source
Development (Cambridge, England)   144(11): 2059-2069 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Cerdà, Joan, Irion, Uwe, Maischein, Hans-Martin, Nüsslein-Volhard, Christiane
Keywords
aquaporin, pattern formation, pigmentation, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animal Fins/anatomy & histology
  • Animal Fins/cytology
  • Animals
  • Aquaporin 3/chemistry
  • Aquaporin 3/genetics*
  • Aquaporin 3/metabolism
  • Chromatophores/metabolism
  • Genes, Dominant
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
  • Mutation/genetics*
  • Mutation, Missense/genetics
  • Permeability
  • Phenotype
  • Pigmentation*
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/chemistry
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
28506994 Full text @ Development
Abstract
The development of the pigmentation pattern in zebrafish is a tightly regulated process that depends on both the self-organizing properties of pigment cells and extrinsic cues from other tissues. Many of the known mutations that alter the pattern act cell-autonomously in pigment cells, and our knowledge about external regulators is limited. Here, we describe novel zebrafish mau mutants, which encompass several dominant missense mutations in Aquaporin 3a (Aqp3a) that lead to broken stripes and short fins. A loss-of-function aqp3a allele, generated by CRISPR-Cas9, has no phenotypic consequences, demonstrating that Aqp3a is dispensable for normal development. Strikingly, the pigment cells from dominant mau mutants are capable of forming a wild-type pattern when developing in a wild-type environment, but the surrounding tissues in the mutants influence pigment cell behaviour and interfere with the patterning process. The mutated amino acid residues in the dominant alleles line the pore surface of Aqp3a and influence pore permeability. These results demonstrate an important effect of the tissue environment on pigment cell behaviour and, thereby, on pattern formation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping