The Mutation of piezo1 Weakens the Intermuscular Bones in Zebrafish and Crucian Carp

Intermuscular bones (IBs), unique skeletal features found only in teleost fishes, pose significant challenges to food processing and consumption. While recent studies have identified several key genetic regulators of IB development, the role of mechanosensory mechanisms remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the role of Piezo1, a critical mechanosensitive ion channel, in IB formation using zebrafish and crucian carp models. Our findings demonstrated that piezo1 was expressed in the myoseptum of zebrafish, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of this gene resulted in shorter and smaller IBs. Similar knockout experiments in crucian carp confirmed the conserved role of Piezo1 across cyprinid species. These results established Piezo1 as a key regulator of IB development, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and suggesting potential strategies for breeding IB-free fish strains through modulation of mechanosensory pathways.