PUBLICATION

Caldesmon is essential for cardiac morphogenesis and function: In vivo study using a zebrafish model

Authors
Zheng, P.P., Severijnen, L.A., Willemsen, R., and Kros, J.M.
ID
ZDB-PUB-081114-14
Date
2009
Source
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications   378(1): 37-40 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Keywords
Cardiac development, Myogenesis, Contractility, Caldesmon, Zebrafish model
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins/genetics
  • Calmodulin-Binding Proteins/physiology*
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • Heart/embryology*
  • Heart/physiology*
  • Models, Animal
  • Morphogenesis*/genetics
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
PubMed
19000902 Full text @ Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.
Abstract
The zebrafish homologue of caldesmon is similar to the mammalian low molecular weight caldesmon (l-CaD). In this study, we explored the effects of caldesmon knockdown on vertebrate heart development in vivo. In a zebrafish model caldesmon was knocked down resulting in defective cardiac morphogenesis, muscularization and function. The data provide the first functional assessment of the role of caldesmon in cardiac development in vivo, and indicate that caldesmon is essential for proper cardiac organogenesis and function. Because caldesmon expression remarkably influences cardiac muscularization, the findings are relevant for designing future therapeutic strategies in the regeneration of cardiac damage.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping