PUBLICATION

Gap junctions composed of connexions 41.8 and 39.4 are essential for colour pattern formation in zebrafish

Authors
Irion, U., Frohnhöfer, H.G., Krauss, J., Çolak Champollion, T., Maischein, H., Geiger-Rudolph, S., Weiler, C., Nüsslein-Volhard, C.
ID
ZDB-PUB-141224-9
Date
2014
Source
eLIFE   4: 1225-38 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Frohnhöfer, Hans Georg, Geiger-Rudolph, Silke, Irion, Uwe, Krauss, Jana, Maischein, Hans-Martin, Nüsslein-Volhard, Christiane, Weiler, Christian
Keywords
chromosomes, connexins, developmental biology, gap junctions, genes, leopard, pigmentation, stem cells, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Male
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutation
  • Chimera/genetics*
  • Chimera/metabolism
  • Pigments, Biological/biosynthesis
  • Pigmentation/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/growth & development
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
  • Connexins/genetics*
  • Connexins/metabolism
  • Alleles
  • Female
  • Protein Isoforms/genetics
  • Protein Isoforms/metabolism
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
  • Gap Junctions/chemistry
  • Gap Junctions/genetics*
  • Gap Junctions/metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Color
  • Animals
  • Genotype
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
(all 29)
PubMed
25535837 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Interactions between all three pigment cell types are required to form the stripe pattern of adult zebrafish (Danio rerio), but their molecular nature is poorly understood. Mutations in leopard (leo), encoding Connexin41.8 (Cx41.8), a gap junction subunit, cause a phenotypic series of spotted patterns. A new dominant allele, leo(tK3), leads to a complete loss of the pattern, suggesting a dominant negative impact on another component of gap junctions. In a genetic screen we identified this component as Cx39.4 (luchs). Loss-of-function alleles demonstrate that luchs is required for stripe formation in zebrafish, however, the fins are almost not affected. Double mutants and chimeras, which show that leo and luchs are only required in xanthophores and melanophores, but not in iridophores, suggest that both connexins form heteromeric gap junctions. The phenotypes indicate that these promote homotypic interactions between melanophores and xanthophores, respectively, and those cells instruct the patterning of the iridophores.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Figure Gallery (6 images)
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Expression
No data available
Phenotype
Fish Conditions Stage Phenotype Figure
csf1ratm236b/tm236bstandard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236bstandard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236bstandard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236b; gja5bdtk3/dtk3standard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236b; gja5bdtk3/dtk3standard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236b; gja5bdtk3/dtk3standard conditionsAdult
csf1ratm236b/tm236b; gja5bdtk3/dtk3standard conditionsAdult
gja4dtxa9/+standard conditionsAdult
gja4dtxa9/+standard conditionsAdult
gja4dtxa9/+; gja5bt1/t1standard conditionsAdult
1 - 10 of 64
Show
Mutations / Transgenics
Allele Construct Type Affected Genomic Region
b6
    		Unknown
    b134
      		Unknown
      dt3oj022
        		Point Mutation
        dtk3
          		Point Mutation
          dtnr16
            		Point Mutation
            dtnz
              		Point Mutation
              dtq270
                		Point Mutation
                dtw28
                  		Point Mutation
                  dtxa9
                    		Point Mutation
                    dtxg1
                      		Point Mutation
                      1 - 10 of 17
                      Show
                      Human Disease / Model
                      No data available
                      Sequence Targeting Reagents
                      Target Reagent Reagent Type
                      gja4CRISPR1-gja4CRISPR
                      1 - 1 of 1
                      Show
                      Fish
                      Fish
                      csf1ratm236b/tm236b
                      csf1ratm236b/tm236b; gja5bdtk3/dtk3
                      ednrbatlf802/tlf802
                      gja4dtxa9/dtxa9
                      gja4dtxa9/+
                      gja4dtxa9/+; gja5bt1/t1
                      gja4dtxg1/dtxg1
                      gja4dtxg1/+
                      gja4dtxg1/+; gja5bt1/t1
                      gja4t32241/t32241
                      1 - 10 of 23
                      Show
                      Antibodies
                      No data available
                      Orthology
                      Gene Orthology
                      gja4
                      gja5b
                      1 - 2 of 2
                      Show
                      Engineered Foreign Genes
                      No data available
                      Mapping
                      No data available
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                      Citation
                      Irion, U., Frohnhöfer, H.G., Krauss, J., Çolak Champollion, T., Maischein, H., Geiger-Rudolph, S., Weiler, C., Nüsslein-Volhard, C. (2014) Gap junctions composed of connexions 41.8 and 39.4 are essential for colour pattern formation in zebrafish. eLIFE. 4:1225-38.