A novel protein involved in heart development in Ambystoma mexicanum is localized in endoplasmic reticulum

Jia P., Zhang C., Huang X. P., Poda M., Akbas F., Lemanski S. L., ...More

JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE, vol.15, no.6, pp.789-799, 2008 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 15 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2008
  • Doi Number: 10.1007/s11373-008-9262-y
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.789-799
  • Keywords: Ambystoma mexicanum, N1 gene, In situ hybridization, ER retention signal, Myofibrils, MUTANT AXOLOTL HEARTS, MYOFIBRILLOGENESIS, RNA, INDUCTION, ENDODERM, SALAMANDERS, TROPOMYOSIN, EXPRESSION, RETENTION, MOTIF
  • Istanbul University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

The discovery of the naturally occurring cardiac non-function (c) animal strain in Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl) provides a valuable animal model to study cardiomyocyte differentiation. In homozygous mutant animals (c/c), rhythmic contractions of the embryonic heart are absent due to a lack of organized myofibrils. We have previously cloned a partial sequence of a peptide cDNA (N1) from an anterior-endoderm-conditioned-medium RNA library that had been shown to be able to rescue the mutant phenotype. In the current studies we have fully cloned the N1 full length cDNA sequence from the library. N1 protein has been detected in both adult heart and skeletal muscle but not in any other adult tissues. GFP-tagged expression of the N1 protein has revealed localization of the N1 protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Results from in situ hybridization experiments have confirmed the dramatic decrease of expression of N1 mRNA in mutant (c/c) embryos indicating that the N1 gene is involved in heart development.