PUBLICATION

Molecular characterization and expression pattern of taurine transporter in zebrafish during embryogenesis

Authors
Kozlowski, D.J., Chen, Z., Zhuang, L., Fei, Y.J., Navarre, S., and Ganapathy, V.
ID
ZDB-PUB-080415-17
Date
2008
Source
Life sciences   82(19-20): 1004-1011 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Kozlowski, David J., Navarre, Sammy
Keywords
Taurine transporter, Zebrafish, Embryogenesis, Retina, Brain, Apoptosis
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis/drug effects
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Embryonic Development*/drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells/metabolism
  • Humans
  • In Situ Hybridization
  • Membrane Glycoproteins/biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
  • Membrane Transport Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins/genetics
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
18407297 Full text @ Life Sci.
Abstract
Taurine and its transporter (TauT) are expressed in preimplantation embryos, but their role in embryogenesis is not known. To investigate the role of TauT during embryonic development, we cloned and functionally characterized the zebrafish TauT. The zebrafish TauT cDNA codes for a protein of 625 amino acids which is highly homologous to mammalian TauT. When expressed in mammalian cells, zebrafish TauT mediates taurine uptake in a Na(+)/Cl(-)-dependent manner with a Na(+):Cl(-):taurine stoichiometry of 2:1:1. In the zebrafish embryo, taurine and TauT mRNA are present during early cleavage stages, indicating that both the transporter and its substrate are maternally derived. During embryogenesis, zygotic expression of TauT mRNA is evident in the retina, brain, heart, kidney, and blood vessels. Knockdown of TauT by antisense morpholino oligonucleotides leads to cell death in the central nervous system and increased mortality. These findings suggest a specific role for TauT during development in vertebrates.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping