Caldesmon is essential for cardiac morphogenesis and function: in vivo study using a zebrafish model.
The zebrafish homologue of caldesmon is similar to the mammalian low molecular weight caldesmon (l-CaD). In this study, we explored the effects of caldesmon knockdown on vertebrate heart development in vivo. In a zebrafish model caldesmon was knocked down resulting in defective cardiac morphogenesis, muscularization and function. The data provide the first functional assessment of the role of caldesmon in cardiac development in vivo, and indicate that caldesmon is essential for proper cardiac organogenesis and function. Because caldesmon expression remarkably influences cardiac muscularization, the findings are relevant for designing future therapeutic strategies in the regeneration of cardiac damage.
Zheng
Ping-Pin
PP
Department of Pathology, Erasmus Medical Center, JNI Room 230-c, Dr. Molewaterplein 50, PO Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Severijnen
Lies-Anne
LA
Willemsen
Rob
R
Kros
Johan M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D006321:Heart / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D002148:Calmodulin-Binding Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins