PUBLICATION

The Glutamine Synthetases Are Required for Sensory Hair Cell Formation and Auditory Function in Zebrafish

Authors
Zhao, Y., Wang, Z., Xu, M., Qian, F., Wei, G., Liu, D.
ID
ZDB-PUB-241114-2
Date
2024
Source
International Journal of Molecular Sciences   25(21): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Liu, Dong
Keywords
apoptosis, glutamine synthetases, hair cells, hearing, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Hair Cells, Auditory*/metabolism
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase*/genetics
  • Glutamate-Ammonia Ligase*/metabolism
  • Apoptosis/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Animals
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish*/metabolism
PubMed
39519113 Full text @ Int. J. Mol. Sci.
Abstract
The development of sensory hair cells (HCs) is closely linked to hearing loss. There are still many unidentified genes that may play a crucial role in HC development and function. Glutamine synthetase, Glul, is expressed in sensory hair cells and auditory organs. However, the role of the Glul gene family in the auditory system remains largely unexplored. This study aims to investigate the function of the Glul gene family in the auditory system. The expression patterns of the glul gene family were examined via in situ hybridization in zebrafish embryos. It was revealed that the expression of glula occurred in the otic vesicle, while glulb was expressed in the neuromast. In contrast, glulc did not exhibit any discernible signal. glula loss of function caused abnormal otolith formation and reduced hair cell number in otic vesicles, while glulb knockdown caused a decrease in HC number in both neuromasts and otic vesicles and impaired auditory function. Furthermore, we found that the knockdown of glulb induces apoptosis of hair cells. Transcriptomic analysis of zebrafish with glula and glulb knockdown revealed significant alterations in the expression of many genes associated with auditory organs. The current study sheds light on the requirement of glula and glulb in zebrafish hair cell formation and auditory function.
Genes / Markers
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping