Heat shock gene expression and function during zebrafish embryogenesis.
Recent work in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, indicates that heat shock genes are expressed in unique spatial patterns under non-stress conditions. In particular, hsp90alpha is expressed during the normal differentiation of striated muscle fibres, and hsp70-4 is expressed during normal lens development in the eye. Furthermore, disruption of the activity of either of these genes or their protein products gives rise to unique embryonic phenotypes that result from failures in proper somitic muscle development and lens development, respectively. Embryonic hsp70-4 expression is also activated in a cell-specific manner following heavy metal exposure. This has allowed for the development of a hsp70-4/eGFP reporter gene system in stable transgenic zebrafish that serves as a reliable yet extremely quick indicator of cell-specific toxicity in the context of the multicellular, living embryo.
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Health Sciences Building, 107 Wiggins Road, Saskatoon, Sask., Canada S7N 5E5. krone@duke.usask.ca
Patrick H
PH
Krone
Tyler G
TG
Evans
Scott R
SR
Blechinger
D000818:Animals; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D047108:Embryonic Development; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019170:Somites / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D018841:HSP90 Heat-Shock Proteins