Temporal and spatial expression pattern of the myostatin gene during larval and juvenile stages of the Chilean flounder (Paralichthys adspersus)

Iselys Delgado, Eduardo Fuentes, Sebastián Escobar, Cristina Navarro, Tatiana Corbeaux, Ariel E. Reyes, María Inés Vera, Marco Álvarez, Alfredo Molina

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The full length cDNA sequence of the myostatin gene was cloned from a teleostean fish, the Chilean flounder (Paralichthys adspersus) through RT-PCR amplification coupled with the RACE approach to complete the 5′- and 3′-region. The deduced amino acid sequence encodes a protein of 377 amino acid residues, including the structural domains responsible for its biological activity. Amino acid sequence comparison revealed high sequence conservation, and confirmed that the isolated sequence corresponds to the MSTN1 gene. Gene expression analysis showed that cfMSTN mRNA is present in a wide variety of tissues in juvenile fish. In addition, we assessed the spatial expression pattern of the MSTN mRNA during embryos and larval stages through whole mount in situ hybridization. No expression was observed in embryos, whereas in larvae of 8 and 9 days post fertilization, the notochord, somites, intestine and some discrete territories in the head, such as brain and eye, were positive for MSTN mRNA. Our results contribute to the knowledge of the MSTN system in larval and juvenile stages; in particular the strong expression observed in the notochord suggests that MSTN, in synchronization with positive growth signals, may play an important role in the control of the development of larvae somites.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)197-202
Number of pages6
JournalComparative Biochemistry and Physiology - B Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Volume151
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2008

Keywords

  • Chilean flounder
  • Fish
  • Muscle growth
  • Myostatin
  • Whole mount in situ hybridization

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Aquatic Science
  • Animal Science and Zoology
  • Molecular Biology

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