Int. J. Dev. Biol. 52: 1089 - 1098 (2008)

https://doi.org/10.1387/ijdb.072519jx

Vol 52, Issue 8

Apo-14 is required for digestive system organogenesis during fish embryogenesis and larval development

Original Article | Published: 1 October 2008

Jian-Hong Xia, Jing-Xia Liu, Li Zhou, Zhi Li and Jian-Fang Gui*

State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China

Abstract

Apo-14 is a fish-specific apolipoprotein and its biological function remains unknown. In this study, CagApo-14 was cloned from gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio) and its expression pattern was investigated during embryogenesis and early larval development. The CagApo-14 transcript and its protein product were firstly localized in the yolk syncytial layer at a high level during embryogenesis, and then found to be restricted to the digestive system including liver and intestine in later embryos and early larvae. Immunofluorescence staining in larvae and adults indicated that Cag Apo-14 protein was predominantly synthesized in and excreted from sinusoidal endothelial cells of liver tissue. Morpholino knockdown of Cag Apo-14 resulted in severe disruption of digestive organs including liver, intestine, pancreas and swim bladder. Moreover, yolk lipid transportation and utilization were severely affected in the Cag Apo-14 morphants. Overall, this data indicates that Cag Apo-14 is required for digestive system organogenesis during fish embryogenesis and larval development.

Keywords

apolipoprotein, apo-14, digestive system, organogenesis, gibel carp