Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
We recently identified a novel oncogene, Cancer-upregulated gene 2 (CUG2), which is essential for kinetochore formation and promotes tumorigenesis in mammalian cells. However, the in vivo function of CUG2 has not been studied in animal models.Results
To study the function of CUG2 in vivo, we isolated a zebrafish homologue that is expressed specifically in the proliferating cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Morpholino-mediated knockdown of cug2 resulted in apoptosis throughout the CNS and the development of neurodegenerative phenotypes. In addition, cug2-deficient embryos contained mitotically arrested cells displaying abnormal spindle formation and chromosome misalignment in the neural plate.Conclusions
Therefore, our findings suggest that Cug2 is required for normal mitosis during early neurogenesis and has functions in neuronal cell maintenance, thus demonstrating that the cug2 deficient embryos may provide a model system for human neurodegenerative disorders.
SUBMITTER: Kim HT
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3171718 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Kim Hyun-Taek HT So Ju-Hoon JH Jung Seung-Hyun SH Ahn Dae-Gwon DG Koh Wansoo W Kim Nam-Soon NS Kim Soo-Hyun SH Lee Soojin S Kim Cheol-Hee CH
BMC developmental biology 20110815
<h4>Background</h4>We recently identified a novel oncogene, Cancer-upregulated gene 2 (CUG2), which is essential for kinetochore formation and promotes tumorigenesis in mammalian cells. However, the in vivo function of CUG2 has not been studied in animal models.<h4>Results</h4>To study the function of CUG2 in vivo, we isolated a zebrafish homologue that is expressed specifically in the proliferating cells of the central nervous system (CNS). Morpholino-mediated knockdown of cug2 resulted in apop ...[more]