The zebrafish prospero homolog prox1 is required for mechanosensory hair cell differentiation and functionality in the lateral line.
BACKGROUND
The lateral line system in zebrafish is composed of a series of organs called neuromasts, which are distributed over the body surface. Neuromasts contain clusters of hair cells, surrounded by accessory cells.


RESULTS
In this report we describe zebrafish prox1 mRNA expression in the migrating primordium and in the neuromasts of the posterior lateral line. Furthermore, using an antibody against Prox1 we characterize expression of the protein in different cell types within neuromasts, and we show distribution among the supporting cells and hair cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Functional analysis using antisense morpholinos indicates that prox1 activity is crucial for the hair cells to differentiate properly and acquire functionality, while having no role in development of other cell types in neuromasts.
Pistocchi
Anna
A
Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy. anna.pistocchi@unimi.it
Feijóo
Carmen G
CG
Cabrera
Pablo
P
Villablanca
Eduardo J
EJ
Allende
Miguel L
ML
Cotelli
Franco
F
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D053403:Lateral Line System / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008465:Mechanoreceptors / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein