PUBLICATION

Expression pattern of the small muscle protein, X-linked (smpx) gene during zebrafish embryonic and larval developmental stages

Authors
Ghilardi, A., Diana, A., Prosperi, L., Del Giacco, L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200403-145
Date
2020
Source
Gene expression patterns : GEP   36: 119110 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Del Giacco, Luca, Ghilardi, Anna, Prosperi, Laura
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Muscle Proteins/genetics*
  • Muscle Proteins/metabolism*
  • Mutation
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
32197943 Full text @ Gene Expr. Patterns
Abstract
The small muscle protein, X-linked (SMPX) gene encodes a cytoskeleton-associated protein, highly expressed in both cardiac and skeletal muscles, as well as in fetal inner ears, with suggested roles as mechanotransductor. Recently, several mutations in the SMPX gene have been associated with X-chromosomal progressive deafness in human. However, very little information is known concerning the roles of SMPX, and no in-vivo models are currently available. Therefore, we characterized the zebrafish ortholog of SMPX to pave the way towards the establishment of a biotool for future functional studies. Despite the genome duplication occurred in the ancestry of teleosts, zebrafish retain only one copy of smpx which shares a high degree of similarity with the mammalian counterpart in terms of genomic organization, syntenic map, and encoded protein. RT-PCR, as well as whole-mount in-situ hybridization and immunofluorescence analyses, revealed that smpx is expressed in several embryonic areas starting from the 4-somite stage. Specifically, smpx mRNA marked the Kupffer's vesicle (KV), the somites, the myocardium, the hair cells of the anterior and the posterior macula of the inner ear, the pronephric ducts, and the muscles of the branchial arches, eyes and pectoral fins. According to our data, zebrafish smpx expression pattern closely resembles that observed in mouse and human, supporting the notion that zebrafish might represent a suitable in-vivo model to disclose the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the involvement of SMPX in development and disease.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping