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Lidron 2016 Abstract Mito Xmas Meeting Innsbruck

From Bioblast
MCU knock-down impairs skeletal muscle and motor neuron development in zebrafish embryos.

Link:

Lidron E, Zanin S, Moro E, Argenton F, Rizzuto R, Pallafacchina G (2016)

Event: Mito Xmas Meeting 2016 Innsbruck AT

Ca2+ is a fundamental signalling molecule which decodes a variety of extra-and intra-cellular inputs and regulates diverse biological processes, from egg fertilization to organogenesis and tissue specific function, such as contraction in skeletal muscle and neuronal firing in brain.

Mitochondria are one of the most important targets and regulators of cellular Ca2+ signalling. In 2011, the molecular complex responsible for the entry of Ca2+ in mitochondria, the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU), was identified by our and Moothaโ€™s groups, opening the path for the biochemical and molecular characterization of the mechanisms underlying mitochondria contribution to Ca2+ signalling.

Our work aims to explore the contribution of MCU and mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics in the regulation of vertebrate development and organogenesis implementing the zebrafish (danio rerio) as a model organism. Our experimental strategy consists in knocking down drMCU expression during zebrafish embryonic development. Western blot analysis reveals an efficient MCU knocking down after 48-72 hpf, accompanied by reduced Ca2+ uptake in morphant embryo cells. The down regulation of MCU is extraordinarily maintained up to 8 dpf, suggesting a strong maternal contribution to MCU expression during early stages. Despite MCU morphant fish develop without gross morphological abnormalities, to a deeper analysis they present an altered skeletal muscle structure and a compromised motor neuron differentiation. Concluding, our data indicate a role of MCU in early zebrafish development and in particular we found that MCU is required for the differentiation and maturation of skeletal musculature and of motor neuron network.


Labels: MiParea: Genetic knockout;overexpression, Developmental biology 


Organism: Zebrafish  Tissue;cell: Skeletal muscle, Nervous system 

Enzyme: Inner mt-membrane transporter  Regulation: Calcium, Ion;substrate transport 


Event: Poster  Labelled by author 

Affiliations

Lidron E(1), Zanin S(1), Moro E(2), Argenton F(3), Rizzuto R(1), Pallafacchina G(1)
  1. Dept Biomedical Sc, Univ Padova and CNR Neuroscience Inst, Italy
  2. Dept Molecular Medicine, Univ Padova, Italy
  3. Dept Biology, Univ Padova, Italy