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RNA polymerase II subunit D is essential for zebrafish development
Masanari Maeta1, Miku Kataoka1, Yusuke Nishiya1
1Department of Chemistry and Biological Science, College of Science and Engineering, Aoyama Gakuin University, Sagamihara, 252-5258, Japan.
Scientific Reports
|August 9, 2020
Summary
The Rpb4/Polr2d subunit is essential for vertebrate development. Zebrafish lacking this subunit show developmental delays, increased cell death, and premature death, confirming its indispensable role.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (pol II) has dissociable subunits, including Rpb4/Polr2d.
- Rpb4/Polr2d is conserved across species but its necessity in vertebrates is unknown.
- Previous studies show Rpb4's roles in RNA synthesis and mRNA regulation in yeast.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if Rpb4/Polr2d is essential for vertebrate development and survival.
- To investigate the developmental consequences of polr2d deficiency in zebrafish.
Main Methods:
- Generated polr2d-deficient zebrafish using genetic approaches.
- Observed and analyzed developmental phenotypes of mutant embryos.
- Utilized RT-qPCR to assess gene expression in mutant embryos.
Main Results:
- polr2d mutant zebrafish embryos displayed delayed somitogenesis starting at 11 hpf.
- Increased cell death (15 hpf), hypoplasia (small eye, cardiac edema at 48 hpf), and premature death (by 60 hpf) were observed.
- Expression of housekeeping and zygotic genes was significantly reduced in mutants.
Conclusions:
- Rpb4/Polr2d is indispensable for normal embryonic development and survival in zebrafish.
- The findings highlight the critical role of Rpb4/Polr2d in vertebrate development, extending beyond its known functions in yeast.
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