PUBLICATION

Synaptic silencing of fast muscle is compensated by rewired innervation of slow muscle

Authors
Zempo, B., Yamamoto, Y., Williams, T., Ono, F.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200422-108
Date
2020
Source
Science advances   6: eaax8382 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ono, Fumihito
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Gene Targeting
  • Genetic Loci
  • Larva
  • Locomotion
  • Muscle Fibers, Fast-Twitch/physiology*
  • Muscle Fibers, Slow-Twitch/physiology*
  • Neuromuscular Junction/physiology*
  • Receptors, Nicotinic/deficiency
  • Synaptic Transmission
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32284992 Full text @ Sci Adv
Abstract
For decades, numerous studies have proposed that fast muscles contribute to quick movement, while slow muscles underlie locomotion requiring endurance. By generating mutant zebrafish whose fast muscles are synaptically silenced, we examined the contribution of fast muscles in both larval and adult zebrafish. In the larval stage, mutants lacked the characteristic startle response to tactile stimuli: bending of the trunk (C-bend) followed by robust forward propulsion. Unexpectedly, adult mutants with silenced fast muscles showed robust C-bends and forward propulsion upon stimulation. Retrograde labeling revealed that motor neurons genetically programmed to form synapses on fast muscles are instead rerouted and innervate slow muscles, which led to partial conversion of slow and intermediate muscles to fast muscles. Thus, extended silencing of fast muscle synapses changed motor neuron innervation and caused muscle cell type conversion, revealing an unexpected mechanism of locomotory adaptation.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping