PUBLICATION

The effector of Hippo signaling, Taz, is required for formation of the micropyle and fertilization in zebrafish

Authors
Yi, X., Yu, J., Ma, C., Dong, G., Shi, W., Li, H., Li, L., Luo, L., Sampath, K., Ruan, H., Huang, H.
ID
ZDB-PUB-190105-6
Date
2019
Source
PLoS Genetics   15: e1007408 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Dong, Guoping, Huang, Honghui, Li, Li, Luo, Lingfei, Ruan, Hua, Sampath, Karuna, Yi, Xaogui
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Cytoskeleton/genetics
  • Cytoskeleton/ultrastructure
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Embryonic Development/genetics*
  • Female
  • Fertilization/genetics*
  • Male
  • Oocytes/growth & development
  • Oogenesis/genetics*
  • Ovary/growth & development
  • Ovary/ultrastructure
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spermatozoa/growth & development
  • Spermatozoa/ultrastructure
  • Transcription Factors/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/growth & development
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
30608921 Full text @ PLoS Genet.
Abstract
The mechanisms that ensure fertilization of egg by a sperm are not fully understood. In all teleosts, a channel called the 'micropyle' is the only route of entry for sperm to enter and fertilize the egg. The micropyle forms by penetration of the vitelline envelope by a single specialized follicle cell, the micropylar cell. The mechanisms underlying micropylar cell specification and micropyle formation are poorly understood. Here, we show that an effector of the Hippo signaling pathway, the Transcriptional co-activator with a PDZ-binding domain (Taz), plays crucial roles in micropyle formation and fertilization in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Genome editing mutants affecting taz can grow to adults. However, eggs from homozygous taz females are not fertilized even though oocytes in mutant females are histologically normal with intact animal-vegetal polarity, complete meiosis and proper ovulation. We find that taz mutant eggs have no micropyle. Taz protein is specifically enriched in mid-oogenesis in the micropylar cell located at the animal pole of wild type oocyte, where it might regulate the cytoskeleton. Taz protein and micropylar cells are not detected in taz mutant ovaries. Our work identifies a novel role for the Hippo/Taz pathway in micropylar cell specification in zebrafish, and uncovers the molecular basis of micropyle formation in teleosts.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping