Molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationships, and developmental expression patterns of prion genes in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

摘要: Prion diseases are characterized by the accumulation of a pathogenic misfolded form prion protein (PrP) encoded Prnp gene in humans. In present study zebrafish, two transcripts and corresponding genes encoding proteins, PrP1 PrP2, related to human PrP have been with relatively divergent deduced amino acid sequence, but well preserved overall organization structural motifs. Whole-mount situ hybridization analysis performed during embryonic larval development showed high level mRNA spatially restricted anterior floor-plate central nervous system ganglia. Transcripts prp2 were detected cells from mid-blastula transition end segmentation period. From 24 h postfertilization up stages, localized distinct anatomical structures, including major expression brain, eye, kidney, lateral line neuromasts, liver, heart, pectoral fins posterior intestine. The observed differential developmental patterns long forms, prp1 prp2, short prp3, more prion-related previously identified should contribute understanding phylogenetic functional relationships duplicated forms fish genome. Together, complex history genes, reflected features, conserved sequence repeat motifs presence suggest possible acquisition or loss functions vertebrate evolution.