PUBLICATION

Behavioral and neurological effects of Vrk1 deficiency in zebrafish

Authors
Carrasco Apolinario, M.E., Umeda, R., Teranishi, H., Shan, M., Phurpa, ., Sebastian, W.A., Lai, S., Shimizu, N., Shiraishi, H., Shikano, K., Hikida, T., Hanada, T., Ohta, K., Hanada, R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-230712-36
Date
2023
Source
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications   675: 101810-18 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Hanada, Reiko, Hanada, Toshikatsu, Shimizu, Nobuyuki
Keywords
Dopamine content, Heterochromatin formation, Microcephaly, Nuclear envelope disassembly, VRK1, Zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Microcephaly*/genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
PubMed
37429068 Full text @ Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
Abstract
Vaccinia-related kinase 1 (VRK1) is a serine/threonine kinase, for which mutations have been reported cause to neurodegenerative diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy, characterized by microcephaly, motor dysfunction, and impaired cognitive function, in humans. Partial Vrk1 knockdown in mice has been associated with microcephaly and impaired motor function. However, the pathophysiological relationship between VRK1 and neurodegenerative disorders and the precise mechanism of VRK1-related microcephaly and motor function deficits have not been fully investigated. To address this, in this study, we established vrk1-deficient (vrk1-/-) zebrafish and found that they show mild microcephaly and impaired motor function with a low brain dopamine content. Furthermore, vrk1-/- zebrafish exhibited decreased cell proliferation, defects in nuclear envelope formation, and heterochromatin formation in the brain. To our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating the important role of VRK1 in microcephaly and motor dysfunction in vivo using vrk1-/- zebrafish. These findings contribute to elucidating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying VRK1-mediated neurodegenerative diseases associated with microcephaly.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping