Kcnq 1-5 (Kv7.1-5) potassium channel expression in the adult zebrafish

Abstract

BackgroundKCNQx genes encode slowly activating-inactivating K+ channels, are linked to physiological signal transduction pathways, and mutations in them underlie diseases such as long QT syndrome (KCNQ1), epilepsy in adults (KCNQ2/3), benign familial neonatal convulsions in children (KCNQ3), and hearing loss or tinnitus in humans (KCNQ4, but not KCNQ5). Identification of kcnqx potassium channel transcripts in zebrafish (Danio rerio) remains to be fully characterized although some genes have been mapped to the genome. Using zebrafish genome resources as the source of putative kcnq sequences, we investigated the expression of kcnq1-5 in heart, brain and ear tissues.ResultsOverall expression of the kcnqx channel transcripts is similar to that found in mammals. We found that kcnq1 expression was highest in the heart, and also present in the ear and brain. kcnq2 was lowest in the heart, while kcnq3 was highly expressed in the brain, heart and ear. kcnq5 expression was highest in the ear. We analyzed zebrafish genomic clones containing putative kcnq4 sequences to identify transcripts and protein for this highly conserved member of the Kcnq channel family. The zebrafish appears to have two kcnq4 genes that produce distinct mRNA species in brain, ear, and heart tissues.ConclusionsWe conclude that the zebrafish is an attractive model for the study of the KCNQ (Kv7) superfamily of genes, and are important to processes involved in neuronal excitability, cardiac anomalies, epileptic seizures, and hearing loss or tinnitus.

Transcriptomic Analyses of Inner Ear Sensory Epithelia in Zebrafish

“…Figure 11 shows the expression of over 80 genes that have been implicated in human deafness or related to hearing in animal models. col11a1a, col11ab, col11a2, col4a5, dfna5b, eya1, eya2, grhl2a, grhl2b, kcnq4, otofa, otofb, and slc26a5 are highly expressed in the zebrafish otic vesicle, hair cells, and semicircular canal (Croushore , 2005;Blasiole et al, 2006;Albert et al, 2007;Xiao and Baier, 2007;Baas et al, 2009;Yokoi et al, 2009;Fang et al, 2010;Hoffman et al, 2010;Janicke et al, 2010;Landgraf et al, 2010;Wu et al, 2014;Chatterjee et al, 2015;Wang et al, 2015). col11a1 has been shown to express in the inner ear and otic capsule of mice (Yoshioka et al, 1995;Diez-Roux et al, 2011) and spontaneous mutation mouse models show both auditory and vestibular abnormalities.…”

Chicken hepatic response to chronic heat stress using integrated transcriptome and metabolome analysis

“…This increased ratio is due to a marked increase in GSH levels, as the GSSG levels stayed fairly constant. Studies investigating acute heat stress indicate a decrease in GSH/GSSG ratios due to increased oxidative damage [ 20 ][ 21 ]. This study did not assess the impact of chronic heat stress on glutathione ratios.…”

Energetic benefits of enhanced summer roosting habitat for little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) recovering from white-nose syndrome

“…Warm roost microclimates could also enhance recovery from WNS. White-nose syndrome causes increased energy expenditure during hibernation that prematurely reduces fat stores ( Warnecke et al , 2012 ; Verant et al , 2014 ), which means affected bats that survive are likely to emerge with minimal energy reserves in spring and must mount an energetically costly immune response while food resources are still scarce. Our results suggest that little brown bats surviving WNS may attempt to compensate for energetic costs via selection of warm roost microclimates.…”