PUBLICATION

Genomic screening of fish-specific genes in gnathostomes and their functions in fin development

Authors
Kudoh, H., Yonei-Tamura, S., Abe, G., Iwakiri, J., Uesaka, M., Makino, T., Tamura, K.
ID
ZDB-PUB-240305-5
Date
2024
Source
Development, growth & differentiation   66(3): 235-247 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Abe, Gembu
Keywords
RNA-seq, fish, group-specific genes, pectoral fin, qkia
MeSH Terms
  • Animal Fins/physiology
  • Animals
  • Genomics
  • Zebrafish*/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins*/genetics
PubMed
38439516 Full text @ Dev. Growth Diff.
Abstract
In this study, we comprehensively searched for fish-specific genes in gnathostomes that contribute to development of the fin, a fish-specific trait. Many previous reports suggested that animal group-specific genes are often important for group-specific traits. Clarifying the roles of fish-specific genes in fin development of gnathostomes, for example, can help elucidate the mechanisms underlying the formation of this trait. We first identified 91 fish-specific genes in gnathostomes by comparing the gene repertoire in 16 fish and 35 tetrapod species. RNA-seq analysis narrowed down the 91 candidates to 33 genes that were expressed in the developing pectoral fin. We analyzed the functions of approximately half of the candidate genes by loss-of-function analysis in zebrafish. We found that some of the fish-specific and fin development-related genes, including fgf24 and and1/and2, play roles in fin development. In particular, the newly identified fish-specific gene qkia is expressed in the developing fin muscle and contributes to muscle morphogenesis in the pectoral fin as well as body trunk. These results indicate that the strategy of identifying animal group-specific genes is functional and useful. The methods applied here could be used in future studies to identify trait-associated genes in other animal groups.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping