Urotensin II-related peptides, Urp1 and Urp2, control zebrafish spine morphology.

ABSTRACT: The spine provides structure and support to the body, yet how it develops its characteristic morphology as the organism grows is little understood. This is underscored by the commonality of conditions in which the spine curves abnormally such as scoliosis, kyphosis, and lordosis. Understanding the origin of these spinal curves has been challenging in part due to the lack of appropriate animal models. Recently, zebrafish have emerged as promising tools with which to understand the origin of spinal curves. Using zebrafish, we demonstrate that the urotensin II-related peptides (URPs), Urp1 and Urp2, are essential for maintaining spine morphology. Urp1 and Urp2 are 10-amino acid cyclic peptides expressed by neurons lining the central canal of the spinal cord. Upon combined genetic loss of Urp1

SUBMITTER: Bearce EA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9836392 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature