In mice, the Klf17 gene was identified as a germ cell-specific gene 4. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the Klf17 family belongs to a distinct branch closely related to Klf2 and Klf4 families, and mammalian Klf17 proteins remarkably diverged from those of other species 3, showing rapid evolution in mammals. Krüpple-like transcription factors (Klfs), which are characterized by the Cys2-His2 zinc-finger motif at the C-terminus, are involved in various developmental processes, such as haematopoiesis and cardiovascular development 1, 2. Thus, the klf17 gene plays important roles in posterior lateral line neuromast and hatching gland development. The klf17-deficient embryos abolished hatching gland cells and Ctsl1b protein expression, and eliminated the expression of polster and hatching gland marker genes, he1. Furthermore, the klf17-deficient embryos failed to hatch and died without hatching around 15 days post-fertilization (dpf), whereas the dechorionated klf17-deficient embryos and wild-type embryos were alive at 15 dpf. The expression of lateral line neuromast genes, klf17 and s100t, in the klf17-deficient embryos was detected in posterior lateral line neuromasts abnormally positioned at short intervals. We found that the klf17-deficient embryos exhibited abnormal lateral line neuromast deposition, whereas the production of primitive erythrocytes and haemoglobin production were observed in the klf17-deficient embryos. We established the klf17-disrupted zebrafish lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 technology and performed phenotypic analysis throughout early embryogenesis. In zebrafish, transient knockdown analysis of biklf/ klf17 using antisense morpholino suggests the involvement of biklf/ klf17 in primitive erythropoiesis and hatching gland development however, the continuous physiological importance of klf17 remains uncharacterized under the genetic ablation of the klf17 gene among vertebrates. Krüpple-like factors (Klfs) are highly conserved zinc-finger transcription factors that regulate various developmental processes, such as haematopoiesis and cardiovascular development.
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