PUBLICATION

Developmental regulation and expression of the zebrafish connexin43 gene

Authors
Chatterjee, B., Chin, A.J., Valdimarsson, G., Finis, C., Sonntag, J.M., Choi, B.Y., Tao, L., Balasubramanian, K., Bell, C., Krufka, A., Kozlowski, D.J., Johnson, R.G., and Lo, C.W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050518-21
Date
2005
Source
Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists   233(3): 890-906 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chin, Alvin J., Finis, Carla, Kozlowski, David J., Sonntag, Jenn, Valdimarsson, Gunnar
Keywords
gap junction; connexin; Cx43 Cx32.2; promoter; zebrafish; mouse; embryo
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Connexin 43/chemistry
  • Connexin 43/genetics*
  • Connexin 43/metabolism*
  • Conserved Sequence/genetics
  • DNA, Complementary/genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Genomics
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Mice
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phylogeny
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/genetics
  • RNA, Messenger/metabolism
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Transcription Initiation Site
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
15895415 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Abstract
We cloned and sequenced the zebrafish (Danio rerio) connexin43 (Cx43alpha1) gene. The predicted protein sequence shows a high degree of sequence conservation. Transcript analyses revealed multiple transcription start sites and a potential alternative transcript encoding a N-terminally truncated Cx43alpha1 protein. Maternal Cx43alpha1 transcripts were detected, with zygotic expression initiated before gastrulation. In situ hybridization revealed many Cx43alpha1 expression domains, including the notochord and brain, heart and vasculature, many resembling patterns seen in mammalian embryos. Of interest, a reporter construct under control of the mouse Cx43alpha1 promoter was observed to drive green fluorescent protein expression in zebrafish embryos in domains mimicking the native Cx43alpha1 expression pattern in fish and mice. Sequence comparison between the mouse and zebrafish Cx43alpha1 promoter sequences showed the conservation of several transcription factor motifs, which otherwise shared little overall sequence homology. The conservation of protein sequence and developmental gene regulation would suggest that Cx43alpha1 gap junctions are likely to have conserved roles in vertebrate embryonic development. Developmental Dynamics, 2005. (c) 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping