The molecular cloning and characterization of potential chick DM-GRASP homologs in zebrafish and mouse.
A full-length zebrafish cDNA clone and a partial mouse cDNA clone similar to chick DM-GRASP were isolated and analyzed. The nucleotide sequence of the full-length zebrafish clone shares 54% identity, and predicts 39% amino acid identity, with chick DM-GRASP. The partial mouse clone shares 76% nucleotide identity, and predicts 76% amino acid identity, with chick DM-GRASP. The predicted proteins encoded by both of these clones exhibit conserved structural domains that are characteristic of the chick protein. These features may identify them as a distinct subfamily within the immunoglobulin superfamily of cell adhesion molecules. Expression of the zebrafish DM-GRASP protein is similar to chick DM-GRASP and is principally restricted to a small subset of developing sensory and motor neurons during axonogenesis. Zebrafish DM-GRASP expression was temporally regulated and limited to specific axon domains. This regional expression correlated with fasciculated axon domains. These results suggest that the zebrafish and mouse cDNA clones represent the respective fish and mammalian homologs of chick DM-GRASP. The highly selective expression of zebrafish DM-GRASP suggests that it is involved in the selective fasciculation and guidance of axons along their normal pathways.
Kanki
J P
JP
Department of Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-1048.
Chang
S
S
Kuwada
J Y
JY
D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D017385:Sequence Homology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
D020410:Activated-Leukocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule; D015816:Cell Adhesion Molecules, Neuronal; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins