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Published on: October 19, 2013
Expression of PKC in the developing zebrafish, Danio rerio
Carrie Anne Blakey Slatter1, Hanif Kanji, Chris Alexander Coutts
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, CW-405 Biological Sciences Building, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E9, Canada.
Journal of Neurobiology
|November 18, 2004
Summary
Protein kinase C (PKC) expression was mapped in developing zebrafish. PKC alpha was not involved in Rohon-Beard neuron apoptosis, and Mauthner cells primarily expressed PKC, not PKC alpha.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Protein kinase C (PKC) is crucial for diverse biological processes.
- Understanding PKC expression patterns during early development is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the developmental expression of PKC-positive cells in zebrafish embryos and larvae.
- To investigate the role of PKC alpha in Rohon-Beard neuron apoptosis during early zebrafish development.
Main Methods:
- Western blotting to confirm antibody specificity against PKC and PKC alpha.
- Immunohistochemistry and double-labeling to identify PKC-positive neurons, including trigeminal and Rohon-Beard cells.
- TUNEL assay to assess apoptosis in Rohon-Beard neurons and its correlation with PKC alpha expression.
Main Results:
- PKC expression was detected in trigeminal ganglia, dorsal spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglia neurons.
- PKC alpha was present in Rohon-Beard cells up to 7 days post-fertilization, but not correlated with apoptosis.
- Approximately 40% of Rohon-Beard cells expressed PKC at 24 hours post-fertilization.
- Mauthner cells showed PKC labeling, but not PKC alpha, indicating other PKC isoforms are dominant.
Conclusions:
- PKC alpha is not implicated in the apoptosis of Rohon-Beard neurons.
- Zebrafish development involves distinct PKC isoform expression in specific neuronal populations like Mauthner cells.
