title: Caveolin-1 is required for lateral line neuromast and notochord development.
abstract: Caveolae have been linked to diverse cellular functions and to many disease states. In this study we have used zebrafish to examine the role of caveolin-1 and caveolae during early embryonic development. During development, expression is apparent in a number of tissues including Kupffer's vesicle, tailbud, intersomite boundaries, heart, branchial arches, pronephric ducts and periderm. Particularly strong expression is observed in the sensory organs of the lateral line, the neuromasts and in the notochord where it overlaps with expression of caveolin-3. Morpholino-mediated downregulation of Cav1alpha caused a dramatic inhibition of neuromast formation. Detailed ultrastructural analysis, including electron tomography of the notochord, revealed that the central regions of the notochord has the highest density of caveolae of any embryonic tissue comparable to the highest density observed in any vertebrate tissue. In addition, Cav1alpha downregulation caused disruption of the notochord, an effect that was enhanced further by Cav3 knockdown. These results indicate an essential role for caveolin and caveolae in this vital structural and signalling component of the embryo.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Nixon
authors.forename: Adrian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferguson
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Floetenmeyer
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Riches
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Key
authors.forename: Monte
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Westerfield
authors.forename: Robert G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Parton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D021941:Caveolae / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051242:Caveolin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051244:Caveolin 3 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology; D009672:Notochord / Q000196:embryology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology; D019170:Somites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D051242:Caveolin 1; D051244:Caveolin 3; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins