Neuronal calcium sensor-1 gene ncs-1a is essential for semicircular canal formation in zebrafish inner ear.
We have analyzed the functional role of neuronal calcium sensor-1 (Ncs-1) in zebrafish development. We identified two orthologs of the mammalian NCS-1 gene. Full-length cDNAs encoding zebrafish Ncs-1a and Ncs-1b polypeptides were cloned and characterized. Whole-mount in situ hybridization revealed that ncs-1a mRNA was expressed beginning at early somitogenesis. As development progressed, ncs-1a mRNA was present throughout the embryo with expression detected in ventral hematopoietic mesoderm, pronephric tubules, CNS nuclei, and otic vesicle. By 4.5 days post fertilization (dpf), ncs-1a expression was detected primarily in the brain. Expression of ncs-1b mRNA was first detected at 36 hours post fertilization (hpf) and was restricted to the olfactory bulb. By 4.5 dpf, ncs-1b was expressed at low levels throughout the brain. Knockdown of ncs-1a mRNA translation with antisense morpholinos blocked formation of semicircular canals. These studies identify a novel function for ncs-1a in inner ear development and suggest that this calcium sensor plays an important role in vestibular function.
Blasiole
Brian
B
Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033, USA.
Kabbani
Nadine
N
Boehmler
Wendy
W
Thisse
Bernard
B
Thisse
Christine
C
Canfield
Victor
V
Levenson
Robert
R
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D051580:Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000235:genetics*; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D010802:Phylogeny; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012665:Semicircular Canals / Q000196:embryology*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D051580:Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins; D009479:Neuropeptides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C101464:frequenin calcium sensor proteins