PUBLICATION

Zebrafish cx30.3: Identification and characterization of a gap junction gene highly expressed in the skin

Authors
Tao, L., Derosa, A.M., White, T.W., and Valdimarsson, G.
ID
ZDB-PUB-100826-27
Date
2010
Source
Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists   239(10): 2627-2636 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Valdimarsson, Gunnar
Keywords
connexin, gap junction, zebrafish, embryo, skin, inner ear
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Connexins/chemistry
  • Connexins/classification
  • Connexins/genetics
  • Connexins/metabolism*
  • Ear, Inner/embryology
  • Ear, Inner/metabolism
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
  • Exons/genetics
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Introns/genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Skin/embryology
  • Skin/metabolism*
  • Transcription Initiation Site
  • Zebrafish/embryology
  • Zebrafish/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/chemistry
  • Zebrafish Proteins/classification
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
20737512 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Abstract
We have identified and characterized a zebrafish connexin, Cx30.3. Sequence similarity analyses suggested that Cx30.3 was orthologous to both mammalian Cx26 and Cx30, known to play important roles in the skin and inner ear of mammals. Analysis of mRNA expression showed that Cx30.3 was present in early embryos, and was highly abundant in skin, but also detected in other tissues including fins, inner ear, heart, and the retina. Injection of Cx30.3 cRNA into Xenopus oocytes elicited robust intercellular coupling with voltage gating sensitivity similar to mammalian Cx26 and Cx30. The similarities in functional properties and expression patterns suggest that Cx30.3, like mammalian Cx26 and Cx30, may play a significant role in skin development, hearing, and balance in zebrafish. Thus, zebrafish could potentially serve as an excellent model to study disorders of the skin and deafness that result from human connexin mutations.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping