Loss of Ribosomal Protein L11 Affects Zebrafish Embryonic Development through a p53-Dependent Apoptotic Response
2009

Loss of Ribosomal Protein L11 Affects Zebrafish Embryonic Development through a p53-Dependent Apoptotic Response

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Author Information

Author(s): Anirban Chakraborty, Tamayo Uechi, Sayomi Higa, Hidetsugu Torihara, Naoya Kenmochi

Primary Institution: Frontier Science Research Center, University of Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan

Hypothesis

The deletion of L11 and its physiological relevance to p53 activity in zebrafish will activate the p53 pathway.

Conclusion

L11 deficiency activates a p53-dependent checkpoint response that prevents proper embryonic development in zebrafish.

Supporting Evidence

  • L11-deficient embryos displayed developmental abnormalities primarily in the brain, leading to embryonic lethality within 6–7 days post fertilization.
  • Extensive apoptosis was observed in the head region of the morphants, correlating morphological defects with apparent cell death.
  • Simultaneous knockdown of the p53 gene rescued the developmental defects and apoptosis in the morphants.

Takeaway

When zebrafish don't have enough of a protein called L11, it causes problems in their brain development and makes them die early because their cells are dying.

Methodology

The researchers knocked down the rpl11 gene in zebrafish using Morpholino antisense oligonucleotides and analyzed the resulting phenotypes.

Limitations

The study primarily focuses on the effects in zebrafish, which may not fully translate to other species.

Participant Demographics

Zebrafish embryos were used in the study.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0004152

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