title: Zona pellucida domain-containing protein β-tectorin is crucial for zebrafish proper inner ear development.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The zona pellucida (ZP) domain is part of many extracellular proteins with diverse functions from structural components to receptors. The mammalian β-tectorin is a protein of 336 amino acid residues containing a single ZP domain and a putative signal peptide at the N-terminus of the protein. It is 1 component of a gel-like structure called the tectorial membrane which is involved in transforming sound waves into neuronal signals and is important for normal auditory function. β-Tectorin is specifically expressed in the mammalian and avian inner ear.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We identified and cloned the gene encoding zebrafish β-tectorin. Through whole-mount in situ hybridization, we demonstrated that β-tectorin messenger RNA was expressed in the otic placode and specialized sensory patch of the inner ear during zebrafish embryonic stages. Morpholino knockdown of zebrafish β-tectorin affected the position and number of otoliths in the ears of morphants. Finally, swimming behaviors of β-tectorin morphants were abnormal since the development of the inner ear was compromised.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results reveal that zebrafish β-tectorin is specifically expressed in the zebrafish inner ear, and is important for regulating the development of the zebrafish inner ear. Lack of zebrafish β-tectorin caused severe defects in inner ear formation of otoliths and function.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemical Sciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chung-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Chia-Hsiung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Gen-Der
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wei-Hao
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Yi-Chung
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kai-Yun
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Pung-Pung
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Sheng-Ping L
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chang-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D013680:Tectorial Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger