Expression of SPARC and the osteopontin‐like protein during skeletal development in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus

Abstract

Background: Bones are mainly composed of calcium hydroxyapatite and a proteinous matrix. In this study, we focus on the bone matrix proteins, the fish osteopontin orthologous protein (osteopontin-like protein; OP-L) and SPARC, because the current knowledge regarding their expression is fragmentary or contradictory. Results: We first provide a comprehensive and detailed description of skeletal development in the cichlid fish Oreochromis mossambicus. Following this, we analyzed the expression pattern of OP-L and SPARC in detail during development. OP-L expression was only found in tissues that undergo ossification (i.e., developing bones and teeth). Furthermore, we show that there is a fundamental difference in cartilage formation of the splanchnocranium and all other cartilages, concerning SPARC expression. Significantly, we show that the initial calcification of cranial bones occurs simultaneously with the expression of OP-L and SPARC in the osteoblast-like cells, which appear early in development. Conclusions: The difference in SPARC expression during chondrogenesis of the splanchnocranium is likely based on its different evolutionary history compared with the dermatocranium and chondrocranium. Moreover, our results suggest a co-occurrence of the initial calcium deposition and bone matrix protein expression during osteogenesis. Overall, this study enhances our understanding of fish skeletal development and evolution. Developmental Dynamics 244:955-972, 2015. V C 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Not All Inner Ears are the Same: Otolith Matrix Proteins in the Inner Ear of Sub‐Adult Cichlid Fish, Oreochromis Mossambicus, Reveal Insights Into the Biomineralization Process

“…The PCR reaction was performed on cDNA and the products of the correct size were cloned in the pGEM®‐T Easy Vector (Promega, Madison, USA), sequenced on both strands and checked by blast against the NCBI database. The cloning procedure of OMP‐1, otolin‐1 and SPARC was previously described in Weigele et al, (). Successful PCR primers for PCLP were PCR 5′‐GGGAT(AC)TCGGTG CGCTC‐3′; 5′‐TT(GC)TGCATCAGGCT(AGCT)ACCTG −3′.…”

Functional bone histology of zebrafish reveals two types of endochondral ossification, different types of osteoblast clusters and a new bone type

“…However, not much is known about these cells or their function. Avaron et al (2006) and Weigele et al (2015) indicated that osteoblast-like cells are OP-L positive and might therefore be involved in the deposition of bone matrix. However, these cells have few other characteristics of typical osteoblasts .…”

Divergent Expression of SPARC, SPARC-L, and SCPP Genes During Jawed Vertebrate Cartilage Mineralization

“…Available expression analyses did not report any cartilaginous expression for SCPP genes in teleosts ( Kawasaki et al, 2005 ; Kawasaki, 2009 ; Weigele et al, 2015 ). Rather, the expression of the SPARC gene has been associated to cartilage development in zebrafish, gilthead seabream and the cichlid mouth breeder ( Estevao et al, 2005 ; Redruello et al, 2005 ; Rotllant et al, 2008 ; Estevao et al, 2011 ; Weigele et al, 2015 ), albeit not in medaka, at least at the examined stages ( Renn et al, 2006 ).…”

“…Available expression analyses did not report any cartilaginous expression for SCPP genes in teleosts ( Kawasaki et al, 2005 ; Kawasaki, 2009 ; Weigele et al, 2015 ). Rather, the expression of the SPARC gene has been associated to cartilage development in zebrafish, gilthead seabream and the cichlid mouth breeder ( Estevao et al, 2005 ; Redruello et al, 2005 ; Rotllant et al, 2008 ; Estevao et al, 2011 ; Weigele et al, 2015 ), albeit not in medaka, at least at the examined stages ( Renn et al, 2006 ). Hence the reported cartilaginous expression patterns in teleosts ( SPARC positive and SCPP negative) are opposite to the tetrapod situation ( SPARC negative and SCPP positive), which might be related to drastic difference in the mode of endochondral ossification between these two groups ( Cervantes-Diaz et al, 2017 ).…”