title: Functional genomics in zebrafish permits rapid characterization of novel platelet membrane proteins.
abstract: In this study, we demonstrate the suitability of the vertebrate Danio rerio (zebrafish) for functional screening of novel platelet genes in vivo by reverse genetics. Comparative transcript analysis of platelets and their precursor cell, the megakaryocyte, together with nucleated blood cell elements, endothelial cells, and erythroblasts, identified novel platelet membrane proteins with hitherto unknown roles in thrombus formation. We determined the phenotype induced by antisense morpholino oligonucleotide (MO)-based knockdown of 5 of these genes in a laser-induced arterial thrombosis model. To validate the model, the genes for platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb and the coagulation protein factor VIII were targeted. MO-injected fish showed normal thrombus initiation but severely impaired thrombus growth, consistent with the mouse knockout phenotypes, and concomitant knockdown of both resulted in spontaneous bleeding. Knockdown of 4 of the 5 novel platelet proteins altered arterial thrombosis, as demonstrated by modified kinetics of thrombus initiation and/or development. We identified a putative role for BAMBI and LRRC32 in promotion and DCBLD2 and ESAM in inhibition of thrombus formation. We conclude that phenotypic analysis of MO-injected zebrafish is a fast and powerful method for initial screening of novel platelet proteins for function in thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Marie N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Isabelle I
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Salles
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cvejic
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Garner
authors.forename: Chris I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Iain C
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Macaulay
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Steward
authors.forename: Jaap-Jan
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Zwaginga
authors.forename: Sarah L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dudbridge
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: de Bono
authors.forename: Alison H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Goodall
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Deckmyn
authors.forename: Derek L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stemple
authors.forename: Willem H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ouwehand
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D023281:Genomics; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015027:Zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins