G beta 1 controls collective cell migration by regulating the protrusive activity of leader cells in the posterior lateral line primordium
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
Authors: Xu, Hui; Ye, Ding; Behra, Martine; Burgess, Shawn; Chen, Songhai; Lin, Fang
Abstract
Collective cell migration is critical for normal development, tissue repair and cancer metastasis. Migration of the posterior lateral line primordium (pLLP) generates the zebrafish sensory organs (neuromasts, NMs). This migration is promoted by the leader cells at the leading edge of the pLLP, which express the G protein-coupled chemokine receptor Cxcr4b and respond to the chemokine Cxcl12a. However, the mechanism by which Cxcl12a/Cxcr4b signaling regulates pLLP migration remains unclear. Here we report that signal transduction by the heterotrimeric G protein subunit G beta 1 is essential for proper pLLP migration. Although both G beta 1 and G beta 4 are expressed in the pLLP and NMs, depletion of G beta 1 but not G beta 4 resulted in an arrest of pLLP migration. In embryos deficient for G beta 1, the pLLP cells migrated in an uncoordinated fashion and were unable to extend protrusions at the leading front, phenocopying those in embryos deficient for Cxcl12a or Cxcr4b. A transplantation assay showed that, like Cxcr4b, G beta 1 is required only in the leader cells of the pLLP. Analysis of F-actin dynamics in the pLLP revealed that whereas wild-type leader cells display extensive actin polymerization in the direction of pLLP migration, counterparts defective for GO, Cxcr4b or Cxcl12a do not. Finally, synergy experiments revealed that G beta 1 and Cxcr4b interact genetically in regulating pLLP migration. Collectively, our data indicate that G beta 1 controls migration of the pLLP, likely by acting downstream of the Cxcl12a/Cxcr4b signaling. This study also provides compelling evidence for functional specificity among G beta isoforms in vivo. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Influence of ovarian stage on transcript profiles in fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) ovary tissue
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
Authors: Villeneuve, Daniel L.; Garcia-Reyero, Natalia; Martinovic, Dalma; Cavallin, Jenna E.; Mueller, Nathaniel D.; Wehmas, Leah C.; Kahl, Michael D.; Linnum, Anne L.; Perkins, Edward J.; Ankley, Gerald T.
Abstract
Interpretation of toxicogenomic experiments conducted with ovary tissue from asynchronous-spawning small fish species is complicated by background variation in the relative abundance and proportion of follicles at different stages within the ovary tissue sample. This study employed both real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction and a 15,000 gene oligonucleotide microarray to examine variation in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) ovarian transcriptional profile as a function of quantitative and qualitative differences in ovarian histology. The objectives were to provide data that could potentially aid interpretation of future toxicogenomics experiments, identify putative stage-related transcriptional markers, and generate insights into basic biological regulation of asynchronous oocyte development. Multiple lines of evidence from the present study indicate that variation in the transcriptional profile is primarily dependent on the relative abundance of previtellogenic versus vitellogenic follicles in the ovary. Due to the relatively small proportions of mature ovulated follicles or atretic follicles in the overall follicle population, few potential transcriptional markers of maturation, ovulation, or atresia could be identified. However, among the 460 differentially expressed genes identified in the present study, several targets, including HtrA serine peptidase 3 (htra3), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 3 (timp3), aquaporin 8 (aqp8), transgelin 2 like (tagln2), Nedd4 family interacting protein 2 (ndfip2), chemokine ligand 12a (cxcl12a), midkine-related growth factor (mdka), and jagged 1b (jag 1b) exhibited responses and functional properties that support them as candidate molecular markers of significant shift in gross ovarian stage. Genes associated with a diversity of functions including cellular development, morphogenesis, coated vesicle transport, sexual reproduction, and neuron development, among others, were statistically enriched within the list of 460 genes differentially expressed among different ovarian classes. Overall, results of this study provide insights into background variation in ovary transcript profiles that should aid and enhance the interpretation of toxicogenomic data generated in experiments conducted with small, asynchronous-spawning fish species. Published by Elsevier B.V.