Lmod3-deficiency leads to weakening of the trunk and head musculature.(A) Peak active force of single-twitch contractions generated by 6-dpf-old individual lmod3sa13018 larvae was significantly weaker compared to their siblings. Siblings generated a maximal active force of 0.82 ± 0.01 mN, compared to and 0.19 ± 0.03 mN generated by lmod3sa13018 homozygotes (n = 4). (B) Z-stack projections of ventral views depict the cephalic musculature marked by GFP driven by the Tg(−503unc:GFP) transgene. In contrast to 4-dpf-old siblings, a gap between the two hyohyoideus (hh) muscles was formed in the lower jaw of lmod3sa13018 homozygotes (asterix). (C) At 7dpf, focus stacks of Alcian Blue cartilage stains revealed a widened jaw within lmod3sa13018 mutants. (D) The angle formed by the ceratohyal cartilages (dotted lines) was significantly wider in lmod3sa13018 homozygotes compared to siblings (87 ± 2° and 65 ± 1°, respectively. n = 6). Data are presented as mean ± SEM; *** P < 0.001 calculated by Student’s t test. Scale bar sizes are 200 μm.
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