The minimal gap-junction network among melanophores and xanthophores required for stripe pattern formation in zebrafish
The minimal gap-junction network among melanophores and xanthophores required for stripe pattern formation in zebrafish
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DOI：
10.1242/dev.181065
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发表时间：
2019-11-15
期刊：
影响因子：
4.6
通讯作者：
Watanabe, Masakatsu
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Usui, Yuu;Aramaki, Toshihiro;Watanabe, Masakatsu
连接蛋白39.4(Cx39.4)和连接蛋白41.8(Cx41.8)是在黑色素和黄色素细胞中表达的两种缝隙连接蛋白，对于斑马鱼条纹色素形成所必需的细胞间通讯是至关重要的。我们以前已经描述了Cx39.4和Cx41.8的缝隙连接特性，但这些蛋白质如何促进条纹形成仍不清楚；这是因为不同类型的连接蛋白可能形成异构体缝隙连接，这阻碍了对体内单个连接蛋白功能的准确阐明。在这里，通过安排Cx39.4和Cx41.8在色素细胞中的表达，我们已经确定了条纹产生所需的最简单的缝隙连接网络：Cx39.4在黑素细胞中的表达是必需的，但在黄色素细胞中的表达不是条纹形成所必需的，而Cx41.8在黄色素细胞中的表达就足以形成图案，而Cx41.8在黑素细胞中的表达可能会稳定条纹。此外，膜片钳记录显示Cx39.4缝隙连接具有亚精胺依赖的整流特性。我们的结果表明，Cx39.4促进了黑素细胞和黄色素细胞之间的关键细胞间相互作用，该相互作用介导了从黄色素细胞到黑素细胞的单向激活信号转移，这对黑素细胞的生存是至关重要的。
Connexin 39.4 (Cx39.4) and connexin 41.8 (Cx41.8), two gap-junction proteins expressed in both melanophores and xanthophores, are crucial for the intercellular communication among pigment cells that is necessary for generating the stripe pigment pattern of zebrafish. We have previously characterized the gap-junction properties of Cx39.4 and Cx41.8, but how these proteins contribute to stripe formation remains unclear; this is because distinct types of connexins potentially form heteromeric gap junctions, which precludes accurate elucidation of individual connexin functions in vivo. Here, by arranging Cx39.4 and Cx41.8 expression in pigment cells, we have identified the simplest gap-junction network required for stripe generation: Cx39.4 expression in melanophores is required but expression in xanthophores is not necessary for stripe patterning, whereas Cx41.8 expression in xanthophores is sufficient for the patterning, and Cx41.8 expression in melanophores might stabilize the stripes. Moreover, patch-clamp recordings revealed that Cx39.4 gap junctions exhibit spermidine-dependent rectification property. Our results suggest that Cx39.4 facilitates the crucial cell-cell interactions between melanophores and xanthophores that mediate a unidirectional activation-signal transfer from xanthophores to melanophores, which is essential for melanophore survival.