PUBLICATION

Neuronal calcium sensor-1 gene ncs-1a is essential for semicircular canal formation in zebrafish inner ear

Authors
Blasiole, B., Kabbani, N., Boehmler, W., Thisse, B., Thisse, C., Canfield, V., and Levenson, R.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050518-22
Date
2005
Source
Journal of neurobiology   64(3): 285-297 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Blasiole, Brian, Boehmler, Wendy, Canfield, Victor, Levenson, Robert, Thisse, Bernard, Thisse, Christine
Keywords
zebrafish; neuronal calcium sensor; semicircular canals; morpholinos; ear development
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Brain/embryology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics*
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins
  • Neuropeptides/genetics*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger/analysis
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Semicircular Canals/embryology*
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
PubMed
15898063 Full text @ J. Neurobiol.
Abstract
We have analyzed the functional role of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (Ncs-1) in zebrafish development. We identified two orthologs of the mammalian NCS-1 gene. Full-length cDNAs encoding zebrafish Ncs-1a and Ncs-1b polypeptides were cloned and characterized. Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that ncs-1a mRNA was expressed beginning at early somitogenesis. As development progressed, ncs-1a mRNA was present throughout the embryo with expression detected in ventral hematopoietic mesoderm, pronephric tubules, CNS nuclei, and otic vesicle. By 4.5 days post fertilization (dpf), ncs-1a expression was detected primarily in the brain. Expression of ncs-1b mRNA was first detected at 36 hours post fertilization (hpf) and was restricted to the olfactory bulb. By 4.5 dpf, ncs-1b was expressed at low levels throughout the brain. Knockdown of ncs-1a mRNA translation with antisense morpholinos blocked formation of semicircular canals. These studies identify a novel function for ncs-1a in inner ear development and suggest that this calcium sensor plays an important role in vestibular function. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Neurobiol, 2005.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping