PUBLICATION

A morpholino-based screen to identify novel genes involved in craniofacial morphogenesis

Authors
Melvin, V.S., Feng, W., Hernandez-Lagunas, L., Artinger, K.B., and Williams, T.
ID
ZDB-PUB-130416-20
Date
2013
Source
Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists   242(7): 817-31 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Artinger, Kristin Bruk
Keywords
zebrafish, craniofacial development, morpholino, branchial arches, neural crest derived cartilages
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins/genetics
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism
  • Facial Bones/embryology*
  • Facial Bones/metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/genetics
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
  • Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
  • Mice
  • Morphogenesis/genetics
  • Morphogenesis/physiology
  • Morpholinos
  • Neoplasm Proteins/genetics
  • Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins/genetics
  • Repressor Proteins/metabolism
  • Skull/embryology*
  • Skull/metabolism*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
PubMed
23559552 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Abstract

BACKGROUND: The regulatory mechanisms underpinning facial development are conserved between diverse species. Therefore, results from model systems provide insight into the genetic causes of human craniofacial defects. Previously, we generated a comprehensive dataset examining gene expression during development and fusion of the mouse facial prominences. Here, we used this resource to identify genes that have dynamic expression patterns in the facial prominences, but for which only limited information exists concerning developmental function.

RESULTS: This set of ~80 genes was used for a high throughput functional analysis in the zebrafish system using Morpholino gene knockdown technology. This screen revealed three classes of cranial cartilage phenotypes depending upon whether knockdown of the gene affected the neurocranium, viscerocranium, or both. The targeted genes that produced consistent phenotypes encoded proteins linked to transcription (meis1, meis2a, tshz2, vgll4l), signaling (pkdcc, vlk, macc1, wu:fb16h09), and extracellular matrix function (smoc2). The majority of these phenotypes were not altered by reduction of p53 levels, demonstrating that both p53 dependent and independent mechanisms were involved in the craniofacial abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS: This Morpholino-based screen highlights new genes involved in development of the zebrafish craniofacial skeleton with wider relevance to formation of the face in other species, particularly mouse and human.

Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping