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Emilin genes are duplicated and dynamically expressed during zebrafish embryonic development
Author(s) -
Milanetto Martina,
Tiso Natascia,
Braghetta Paola,
Volpin Dino,
Argenton Francesco,
Bonaldo Paolo
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.21402
Subject(s) - zebrafish , biology , notochord , danio , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , in situ hybridization , extracellular matrix , genetics , gene expression , embryogenesis
Emilins are a family of extracellular matrix proteins with common structural organization and containing a characteristic N‐terminal cysteine‐rich domain. The prototype of this family, Emilin‐1, is found in human and murine organs in association with elastic fibers, and other emilins were recently isolated in mammals. To gain insight into these proteins in lower vertebrates, we investigated the expression of emilins in the fish Danio rerio . Using sequence similarity tools, we identified eight members of this family in zebrafish. Each emilin gene has two paralogs in zebrafish, showing conserved structure with the human ortholog. In situ hybridization revealed that expression of zebrafish emilin genes is regulated in a spatiotemporal manner during embryonic development, with overlapping and site‐specific patterns mostly including mesenchymal structures. Expression of certain emilin genes in peculiar areas, such as the central nervous system or the posterior notochord, suggests that they may play a role in key morphogenetic processes. Developmental Dynamics 237:222–232, 2008. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.