PUBLICATION

The zebrafish gene claudinj is essential for normal ear function and important for the formation of the otoliths

Authors
Hardison, A.L., Lichten, L., Banerjee-Basu, S., Becker, T.S., and Burgess, S.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-050607-1
Date
2005
Source
Mechanisms of Development   122(7-8): 949-958 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Becker, Thomas S., Burgess, Shawn
Keywords
Tight junctions; Otoliths; Zebrafish; Claudin; Deafness; Vestibular defects
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Claudins
  • Ear/anatomy & histology
  • Ear/embryology*
  • Ear/physiology*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian/embryology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Hearing/genetics
  • Hearing/physiology
  • Humans
  • Mutation/genetics
  • Phenotype
  • Phylogeny
  • Rhombencephalon/embryology
  • Rhombencephalon/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/classification
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
15925497 Full text @ Mech. Dev.
Abstract
We have identified a mutation in the zebrafish gene claudinj generated by retroviral integration. Mutant embryos display otoliths severely reduced in size, no response to tapping stimulus, and an inability to balance properly suggesting vestibular and hearing dysfunction. Antisense in situ hybridization to the cldnj gene showed expression first in the otic placode and later asymmetric expression in the otic vesicle. Morpholino inhibition of claudinj expression showed similar defects in otolith formation. Phylogenetic analysis of claudin sequences from multiple species demonstrates that claudinj was part of a gene expansion that began in the common ancestor of fish and humans, but additional fish specific gene duplications must have also occurred.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping