Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.

Cell-cell communication, facilitating the exchange of small metabolites, ions and second messengers, takes place via aqueous proteinaceous channels called gap junctions. Connexins (cx) are the subunits of a gap junction channel. Mutations in zebrafish cx43 produces the short fin (sof (b123) ) phenot...

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Main Authors: Jayalakshmi Govindan, M Kathryn Iovine
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2014-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3922931?pdf=render
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spelling doaj-e30fbf25a573482b9f790ea655561e4e2020-11-25T02:19:01ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032014-01-0192e8857410.1371/journal.pone.0088574Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.Jayalakshmi GovindanM Kathryn IovineCell-cell communication, facilitating the exchange of small metabolites, ions and second messengers, takes place via aqueous proteinaceous channels called gap junctions. Connexins (cx) are the subunits of a gap junction channel. Mutations in zebrafish cx43 produces the short fin (sof (b123) ) phenotype and is characterized by short fins due to reduced segment length of the bony fin rays and reduced cell proliferation. Previously established results from our lab demonstrate that Cx43 plays a dual role regulating both cell proliferation (growth) and joint formation (patterning) during the process of skeletal morphogenesis. In this study, we show that Hapln1a (Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Protein 1a) functions downstream of cx43. Hapln1a belongs to the family of link proteins that play an important role in stabilizing the ECM by linking the aggregates of hyaluronan and proteoglycans. We validated that hapln1a is expressed downstream of cx43 by in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR methods. Moreover, in situ hybridization at different time points revealed that hapln1a expression peaks at 3 days post amputation. Expression of hapln1a is located in the medial mesenchyme and the in the lateral skeletal precursor cells. Furthermore, morpholino mediated knock-down of hapln1a resulted in reduced fin regenerate length, reduced bony segment length and reduced cell proliferation, recapitulating all the phenotypes of cx43 knock-down. Moreover, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) levels are dramatically reduced in hapln1a knock-down fins, attesting the importance of Hapln1a in stabilizing the ECM. Attempts to place hapln1a in our previously defined cx43-sema3d pathway suggest that hapln1a functions in a parallel genetic pathway. Collectively, our data suggest that Cx43 mediates independent Sema3d and Hapln1a pathways in order to coordinate skeletal growth and patterning.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3922931?pdf=render
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jayalakshmi Govindan
M Kathryn Iovine
spellingShingle Jayalakshmi Govindan
M Kathryn Iovine
Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
PLoS ONE
author_facet Jayalakshmi Govindan
M Kathryn Iovine
author_sort Jayalakshmi Govindan
title Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
title_short Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
title_full Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
title_fullStr Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
title_full_unstemmed Hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
title_sort hapln1a is required for connexin43-dependent growth and patterning in the regenerating fin skeleton.
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
series PLoS ONE
issn 1932-6203
publishDate 2014-01-01
description Cell-cell communication, facilitating the exchange of small metabolites, ions and second messengers, takes place via aqueous proteinaceous channels called gap junctions. Connexins (cx) are the subunits of a gap junction channel. Mutations in zebrafish cx43 produces the short fin (sof (b123) ) phenotype and is characterized by short fins due to reduced segment length of the bony fin rays and reduced cell proliferation. Previously established results from our lab demonstrate that Cx43 plays a dual role regulating both cell proliferation (growth) and joint formation (patterning) during the process of skeletal morphogenesis. In this study, we show that Hapln1a (Hyaluronan and Proteoglycan Link Protein 1a) functions downstream of cx43. Hapln1a belongs to the family of link proteins that play an important role in stabilizing the ECM by linking the aggregates of hyaluronan and proteoglycans. We validated that hapln1a is expressed downstream of cx43 by in situ hybridization and quantitative RT-PCR methods. Moreover, in situ hybridization at different time points revealed that hapln1a expression peaks at 3 days post amputation. Expression of hapln1a is located in the medial mesenchyme and the in the lateral skeletal precursor cells. Furthermore, morpholino mediated knock-down of hapln1a resulted in reduced fin regenerate length, reduced bony segment length and reduced cell proliferation, recapitulating all the phenotypes of cx43 knock-down. Moreover, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) levels are dramatically reduced in hapln1a knock-down fins, attesting the importance of Hapln1a in stabilizing the ECM. Attempts to place hapln1a in our previously defined cx43-sema3d pathway suggest that hapln1a functions in a parallel genetic pathway. Collectively, our data suggest that Cx43 mediates independent Sema3d and Hapln1a pathways in order to coordinate skeletal growth and patterning.
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3922931?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT jayalakshmigovindan hapln1aisrequiredforconnexin43dependentgrowthandpatterningintheregeneratingfinskeleton
AT mkathryniovine hapln1aisrequiredforconnexin43dependentgrowthandpatterningintheregeneratingfinskeleton
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