Fin duplications and deletions induced by disruption of retinoic acid signaling |
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Authors: | Mark W Vandersea Paul Fleming Robert A McCarthy D G Smith |
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Institution: | (1) Grice Marine Biological Laboratory, University of Charleston, 205 Fort Johnson, Charleston, South Carolina 29412, USA e-mail: SmithDe@ashley.cofc.edu, US;(2) Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29401, USA, US |
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Abstract: | Retinoic acid (RA), a derivative of vitamin A, plays a critical role as a signaling molecule in axial patterning of vertebrates.
Here we report that RA exposure of zebrafish (Danio rerio) and mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) embryos during gastrulation results in homeotic duplications of the pectoral fins in up to 94% of fish. We have observed
three to four pairs of fins in an individual fish. Although some duplications are partial, many represent complete axial duplications
of the pectoral girdle and fin and include coracoscapulae, proximal radials, and dermal fin elements. Fin duplications are
observed only at a defined dose of RA. Inhibition of RA synthesis by exposure to citral during a narrow developmental window
leads to fish which lack pectoral fins but can be rescued by addition of exogenous RA, suggesting that RA signaling is critical
to fin specification during early development. The ability to consistently induce multiple fins in a large number of vertebrate
embryos should contribute to the understanding of genetic regulation of the normal positioning of limbs during embryogenesis.
Received: 30 August 1997 / Accepted: 6 December 1997 |
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Keywords: | Zebrafish Fundulus Homeotic duplication Citral Pectoral fins |
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