Transcriptome profiling of tendon fibroblasts at the onset of embryonic muscle contraction reveals novel force-responsive genes. FAC sorted tenocytes from 48 hpf zebrafish embryos WT vs. aBTX injected paralyzed bulk RNAseq dataset
Mechanical forces play a critical role in tendon development and function, influencing cell behavior through mechanotransduction signaling pathways and subsequent extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Here we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which tenocytes in developing zebrafish embryos respond to muscle contraction forces during the onset of swimming and cranial muscle activity. Using genome-wide bulk RNA sequencing of FAC-sorted tenocytes we identify novel tenocyte markers and genes involved in tendon mechanotransduction. Overall design: FAC sorted mCherry+ cells from uninjected control 48 hpf and aBTX (alpha-bungarotoxin) injected paralyzed 48 hpf Tg(scxa:mCherry) zebrafish embryos, labeling tendon fibroblasts (tenocytes).