Gain-of-function mutations in Aqp3a influence zebrafish pigment pattern formation through the tissue environment.

ABSTRACT: The development of the pigmentation pattern in zebrafish is a tightly regulated process that depends on both the self-organizing properties of pigment cells and extrinsic cues from other tissues. Many of the known mutations that alter the pattern act cell-autonomously in pigment cells, and our knowledge about external regulators is limited. Here, we describe novel zebrafish mau mutants, which encompass several dominant missense mutations in Aquaporin 3a (Aqp3a) that lead to broken stripes and short fins. A loss-of-function aqp3a allele, generated by CRISPR-Cas9, has no phenotypic consequences, demonstrating that Aqp3a is dispensable for normal development. Strikingly, the pigment cells from dominant mau mutants are capable of forming a wild-type pattern when developing

SUBMITTER: Eskova A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5482984 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature