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A novel role for MAPKAPK2 in morphogenesis during zebrafish development.

Beth A Holloway¹, Sol Gomez de la Torre Canny, Ying Ye

¹Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.

|March 14, 2009

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A new zebrafish gene, betty boop (bbp), regulates epiboly, a crucial developmental process. The gene, Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Activated Protein Kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2), functions in the yolk cell to control cell spreading and prevent yolk bursting.

Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Cell Biology
Genetics

Background:

Epiboly is a fundamental morphogenetic process where cells spread to cover the yolk.
The molecular mechanisms regulating epiboly are not fully understood.
Zebrafish serve as a key model organism for studying early embryonic development.

Purpose of the Study:

To identify novel genetic factors regulating epiboly in zebrafish.
To elucidate the function of the betty boop (bbp) gene in embryonic development.
To uncover a new signaling pathway controlling cell movements during epiboly.

Main Methods:

Isolation and characterization of a novel maternal-effect mutant, betty boop (bbp).
Positional cloning to identify the bbp gene.

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Whole-blastoderm transplantation and mRNA microinjection for rescue experiments.

Analysis of calcium dynamics and F-actin networks.

Main Results:

The bbp mutant exhibits a novel epiboly defect with dramatic blastoderm margin constriction and yolk bursting.
The bbp gene encodes zebrafish Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase Activated Protein Kinase 2 (MAPKAPK2).
MAPKAPK2 functions in the yolk cell, regulated by p38 MAP kinase, to control F-actin dynamics and epiboly progression.

Conclusions:

MAPKAPK2 is a novel regulator of epiboly in zebrafish embryonic development.
A p38 MAPKAPK2 signaling cascade modulates yolk cell F-actin, controlling blastopore closure.
This study reveals a new pathway essential for cell movement during epiboly.