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Glycobiology Advance Access published online on December 23, 2003
Glycobiology, doi:10.1093/glycob/cwh032
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Submitted on July 21, 2003
Revised on September 17, 2003
Accepted on October 7, 2003

© 2003 Oxford University Press

ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Biochemical and molecular characterization of galectins from Zebrafish (Danio rerio). Notochord-specific expression of a proto type galectin during early embryogenesis

Hafiz Ahmed 1, Shao-J. Du 1, Nuala O'Leary 1, and Gerardo R. Vasta 1*

1 Center of Marine Biotechnology, University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute, 701 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: vasta{at}umbi.umd.edu.

Abstract

Galectins are a family of {beta}-galactoside-binding lectins that upon synthesis are either translocated into the nucleus or released to the extracellular space. Their developmentally regulated expression, extracellular location, and affinity for extracellular components such as laminin and fibronectin suggest a role in embryonic development, but so far this has not been unequivocally established. Zebrafish constitutes an ideal model for developmental studies because of their external fertilization, transparent embryos, rapid growth, and availability of a large collection of mutants. As a first step in addressing the biological roles in zebrafish embryogenesis, we identified and characterized members of the three-galectin types: three proto galectins (Drgal1-L1, Drgal1-L2, Drgal1-L3), one chimera galectin (Drgal3), and one tandem-repeat galectin (Drgal9-L1). Like mammalian proto type galectin-1, Drgal1-L2 preferentially binds to N-acetyllactosamine. Genomic structure of Drgal1-L2 revealed four exons, with the exon/intron boundaries conserved with the mammalian galectin-1. Interestingly, this gene also encodes an alternatively spliced form of Drgal1-L2 that lacks 8 amino acids near the carbohydrate-binding domain. Zebrafish galectins exhibited distinct patterns of temporal expression during embryo development. Drgal1-L2 is expressed post bud stage, and its expression is strikingly specific to the notochord. In contrast, Drgal1-L1 is expressed maternally in the oocytes. Drgal1-L3, Drgal3, and Drgal9-L1 are expressed both maternally and zygotically, ubiquitously in the adult tissues. The distinct temporal and spatial patterns of expression of members of the zebrafish galectin repertoire suggest that each may play distinct biological roles during early embryogenesis.


Danio rerio, zebrafish galectins, specificity, developmental expression, notochord
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