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Published on: September 1, 2017
ADAM12-deficient zebrafish exhibit retardation in body growth at the juvenile stage without developmental defects
Yudai Tokumasu1, Atsuo Iida1, Zi Wang1,2
1Department of Growth Regulation, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Shogo-in Kawahara-cho 53, Sakyo-ku, Japan.
Abstract:
ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) constitutes a family of multi-domain proteins that are involved in development, homeostasis, and disease. ADAM12 plays important roles in myogenesis and adipogenesis in mice; however, the precise physiological mechanisms are not known, and the function of this gene in other vertebrates has not been examined. In this study, we used a simple model vertebrate, the zebrafish, to investigate the functions of ADAM12 during development. Zebrafish adam12 is conserved with those of mammals in the synteny and the amino-acid sequence. We examined adam12 expression in zebrafish embryos by whole mount in situ hybridization and the promoter activity of the adam12 upstream sequence. We found that adam12 is strongly expressed in the cardiovascular system, erythroid progenitors, brain, and jaw cartilage during zebrafish development, and adam12-knockout zebrafish exhibited reduced body size in the juvenile stage without apparent morphological defects. Taken together, these results suggest that adam12 plays a significant role in the regulation of body growth during juvenile stage in zebrafish, although the precise molecular mechanisms await further study.
Insights
ADAM12 protein is crucial for zebrafish growth. Zebrafish lacking adam12 showed reduced body size during juvenile stages, indicating its role in regulating body growth.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
- Comparative Biology
Background:
- ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) proteins are vital for development, homeostasis, and disease.
- ADAM12 is known for roles in myogenesis and adipogenesis in mice, but its function in other vertebrates is unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental functions of ADAM12 in zebrafish, a model vertebrate.
- To assess the conservation of adam12 between zebrafish and mammals.
Main Methods:
- Examined adam12 expression in zebrafish embryos using whole mount in situ hybridization.
- Analyzed promoter activity of the adam12 upstream sequence.
- Created and studied adam12-knockout zebrafish models.
Main Results:
- Zebrafish adam12 shows conserved synteny and amino acid sequence with mammalian counterparts.
- Strong adam12 expression was observed in the cardiovascular system, erythroid progenitors, brain, and jaw cartilage.
- Adam12-knockout zebrafish exhibited reduced body size in the juvenile stage without obvious morphological defects.
Conclusions:
- ADAM12 plays a significant role in regulating body growth during the juvenile stage in zebrafish.
- The precise molecular mechanisms underlying ADAM12's role in growth require further investigation.
