Abstract Title
Collagen Alpha-1(XI) Protein Expression during Zebrafish Morphogenesis
Abstract
Collagens belong to a family of extracellular proteins that provide structure and support to tissues and are essential for their development and maintenance. Abnormal collagen expression leads to severe developmental defects and may cause abnormal tissue growth. The loss of collagen alpha-1(XI) (col11a1) protein expression affects the spine, face, limbs, hearing, and vision. Our research aims to determine the expression of col11a1 during tissue morphogenesis in zebrafish. Due to their easily visible and rapid development, zebrafish are a good model organism to observe early col11a1 expression levels. We hypothesize that col11a1 expression in early development regulates tissue morphogenesis. Our first step in testing this hypothesis is characterizing the early expression in col11a1 protein. We began by characterizing two novel antibodies that target epitopes of col11a1 protein. These antibodies were used to determine col11a1 protein expression in zebrafish via western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. Our results indicate col11a1 protein expression in the notochord sheath, neural tube, brain, stereocilia, atria, and atrioventricular valves of zebrafish during early development, suggesting an essential role in the initial formation of these tissues. These findings are important because humans with mutations in col11a1 are known to experience hearing loss, mitral valve prolapse, and scoliosis.
Collagen Alpha-1(XI) Protein Expression during Zebrafish Morphogenesis
Collagens belong to a family of extracellular proteins that provide structure and support to tissues and are essential for their development and maintenance. Abnormal collagen expression leads to severe developmental defects and may cause abnormal tissue growth. The loss of collagen alpha-1(XI) (col11a1) protein expression affects the spine, face, limbs, hearing, and vision. Our research aims to determine the expression of col11a1 during tissue morphogenesis in zebrafish. Due to their easily visible and rapid development, zebrafish are a good model organism to observe early col11a1 expression levels. We hypothesize that col11a1 expression in early development regulates tissue morphogenesis. Our first step in testing this hypothesis is characterizing the early expression in col11a1 protein. We began by characterizing two novel antibodies that target epitopes of col11a1 protein. These antibodies were used to determine col11a1 protein expression in zebrafish via western blot and immunofluorescence techniques. Our results indicate col11a1 protein expression in the notochord sheath, neural tube, brain, stereocilia, atria, and atrioventricular valves of zebrafish during early development, suggesting an essential role in the initial formation of these tissues. These findings are important because humans with mutations in col11a1 are known to experience hearing loss, mitral valve prolapse, and scoliosis.