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Role of FK506-binding protein 12 in development of the chick embryonic heart
1United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
Insights
Chicken FKBP12 is crucial for heart development. FK506 drug administration impaired chick embryonic cardiomyocyte function and morphology, indicating FKBP12
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cardiology
Background:
- FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) is a conserved protein with roles in various cellular processes.
- Understanding FKBP12's function in embryonic development is essential for comprehending cardiac formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of chicken FKBP12 in embryonic cardiac development.
- To analyze the effects of FK506 on chick embryonic cardiomyocytes.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and sequencing of chicken FKBP12 cDNA.
- Northern blot analysis to determine FKBP12 mRNA distribution.
- Administration of FK506 to chick embryos and subsequent analysis of cardiac and cellular phenotypes.
Main Results:
- Chicken FKBP12 shares high homology with FKBP12 proteins from other species.
- FKBP12 mRNA is widely distributed in chick embryos, with high abundance in the heart, decreasing over time.
- FK506 administration led to cardiac enlargement, reduced myosin expression, altered cardiomyocyte morphology, and impaired network formation.
Conclusions:
- FKBP12 plays a significant role in regulating contractile function and phenotypic expression in chick cardiomyocytes during embryonic development.
- FK506 interferes with normal cardiac development by affecting FKBP12-mediated processes.
Abstract:
A cDNA encoding chicken FK506-binding protein 12 (FKBP12) was isolated and sequenced. The predicted amino acid sequence of the chicken protein shows high homology to those of FKBP12 proteins of other species ranging from human to frog. The possible role of FKBP12 in chick embryonic cardiac development was examined. Northern blot analysis revealed that FKBP12 mRNA is distributed widely in chick embryos, being especially abundant in the heart; the amount of FKBP12 mRNA in the embryonic heart decreased with time. Administration of FK506 to chick embryos at 7 to 9 days resulted in marked cardiac enlargement. FK506 also reduced the expression of myosin, induced a more elongated cell morphology, and impaired network formation in cultured chick embryonic cardiomyocytes. These results suggest that FKBP12 is important in the regulation of contractile function and phenotypic expression in chick cardiomyocytes during embryonic development.