PUBLICATION
The zebrafish down syndrome cell adhesion molecule is involved in cell movement during embryogenesis
- Authors
- Yimlamai, D., Konnikova, L., Moss, L.G., and Jay, D.G.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-050215-6
- Date
- 2005
- Source
- Developmental Biology 279(1): 44-57 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Moss, Larry Gene
- Keywords
- Danio rerio; Zebrafish; Down syndrome; Dscam; Cell movement; Epiboly; Gastrulation
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Base Sequence
- Body Patterning
- Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics
- Cell Adhesion Molecules/physiology*
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA Primers
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/physiology
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Morphogenesis
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/physiology*
- PubMed
- 15708557 Full text @ Dev. Biol.
Citation
Yimlamai, D., Konnikova, L., Moss, L.G., and Jay, D.G. (2005) The zebrafish down syndrome cell adhesion molecule is involved in cell movement during embryogenesis. Developmental Biology. 279(1):44-57.
Abstract
The Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule (Dscam) is a protein overexpressed in the brains of Down syndrome patients and implicated in mental retardation. Dscam is involved in axon guidance and branching in Drosophila, but cellular roles in vertebrates have yet to be elucidated. To understand its role in vertebrate development, we cloned the zebrafish homolog of Dscam and showed that it shares high amino acid identity and structure with the mammalian homologs. Zebrafish dscam is highly expressed in developing neurons, similar to what has been described in Drosophila and mouse. When dscam expression is diminished by morpholino injection, embryos display few neurons and their axons do not enter stereotyped pathways. Zebrafish dscam is also present at early embryonic stages including blastulation and gastrulation. Its loss results in early morphogenetic defects. dscam knockdown results in impaired cell movement during epiboly as well as in subsequent stages. We propose that migrating cells utilize dscam to remodel the developing embryo.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping