title: Generation of transgenic zebrafish with liver-specific expression of EGFP-Lc3: a new in vivo model for investigation of liver autophagy.
abstract: Transgenic expression of GFP-Lc3 is a useful tool for an in vivo model to monitor the formation of autophagosomes during the autophagy process. So far, two transgenic animals (mice and zebrafish) with expression of GFP-Lc3 have been reported. Liver is one of the most important organs for autophagy research. Here, we generated a transgenic zebrafish line with liver-specific EGFP-Lc3 expression. By exposing transgenic larvae to the autophagy inducer, Torin1, we observed a substantial increase in the number of EGFP-Lc3 puncta in the liver as well as the increase of Lc3-II protein. Notably, addition of a chloroquine (CQ) led to further increase of EGFP-Lc3 puncta in liver cells due to the blockage of lysosomal function and degradation stage of autophagy. Thus, the newly established transgenic line will be a useful in vivo model to investigate liver autophagy, and, in particular, the involvement of autophagy in basic biology and diseases in the liver.
authors.affiliation: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jianzhou
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Tina Huey-Fen
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Zhiyuan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Han-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Shen
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D001343:Autophagy / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D002738:Chloroquine / Q000494:pharmacology; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D023421:Models, Animal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009287:Naphthyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015854:Up-Regulation; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C553294:1-(4-(4-propionylpiperazin-1-yl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-9-(quinolin-3-yl)benzo(h)(1,6)naphthyridin-2(1H)-one; C480860:Map1lc3b protein, mouse; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D009287:Naphthyridines; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D002738:Chloroquine