Cited by 224dental development and anomaliesDevelopmental Biology and Gene RegulationZebrafish Biomedical Research Applications

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 67 of the 67 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 22 of the 62 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Zebrafish eda and edar Mutants Reveal Conserved and Ancestral Roles of Ectodysplasin Signaling in Vertebrates

Open access
Harris, Matthew P., Rohner, Nicolas, Schwarz, Heinz, Perathoner, Simon, Konstantinidis, Peter, Nüsslein-Volhard, Christiane·2008·PLoS Genetics

Abstract

The genetic basis of the development and variation of adult form of vertebrates is not well understood. To address this problem, we performed a mutant screen to identify genes essential for the formation of adult skeletal structures of the zebrafish. Here, we describe the phenotypic and molecular characterization of a set of mutants showing loss of adult structures of the dermal skeleton, such as the rays of the fins and the scales, as well as the pharyngeal teeth. The mutations represent adult-viable, loss of function alleles in the ectodysplasin (eda) and ectodysplasin receptor (edar) genes. These genes are frequently mutated in the human hereditary disease hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED; OMIM 224900, 305100) that affects the development of integumentary appendages such as hair and teeth. We find mutations in zebrafish edar that affect similar residues as mutated in human cases of HED and show similar phenotypic consequences. eda and edar are not required for early zebrafish development, but are rather specific for the development of adult skeletal and dental structures. We find that the defects of the fins and scales are due to the role of Eda signaling in organizing epidermal cells into discrete signaling centers of the scale epidermal placode and fin fold. Our genetic analysis demonstrates dose-sensitive and organ-specific response to alteration in levels of Eda signaling. In addition, we show substantial buffering of the effect of loss of edar function in different genetic backgrounds, suggesting canalization of this developmental system. We uncover a previously unknown role of Eda signaling in teleosts and show conservation of the developmental mechanisms involved in the formation and variation of both integumentary appendages and limbs. Lastly, our findings point to the utility of adult genetic screens in the zebrafish in identifying essential developmental processes involved in human disease and in morphological evolution.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

Adult-viable zebrafish mutants in *eda* and *edar* show that Eda signaling is required post-embryonically for dermal skeleton, scales, fin rays, teeth, and gill rakers, with conserved roles in organizing epithelial placodes/signaling centers. The mutants model human HED and reveal dose- and organ-specific sensitivity plus genetic-background buffering.

Key findings

  • *fls* mutants are *edar* alleles and *Nkt* is an *eda* allele: *fls te370f* is a splice-acceptor A-to-T lesion predicted to be a molecular null; ENU alleles *fls t3R367W* and *fls dt3Tpl* alter death-domain residues matching human HED positions; *Nkt* is S243X truncating the TNF domain. *edar* showed no recombination with *fls* in 238 meioses, and *eda* was tightly linked to *Nkt* on LG5.
  • Mutants are adult viable and visibly unaffected as larvae, but adults lose dermal skeletal structures: fin rays/lepidotrichia, scales, pharyngeal teeth, and gill rakers; skull bones are present but altered in size/shape/proportion. *Nkt* homozygotes are more severe than strong *fls* alleles, while *Nkt* heterozygotes show dominant scale, tooth, and gill-raker defects without fin effects.
  • Eda signaling is dose- and organ-sensitive: the *fang* hypomorph produces a novel *edar* transcript representing 74% of total *edar* transcripts; homozygotes lack fin effects but have reduced scales/teeth, while *fang/te370f* shows intermediate fin, tooth, and scale defects. Background modifiers buffer *fls dt3Tpl* expressivity; scale counts include wild type 6.8±0.18 scales/stl versus *fls dt3Tpl*/Tü 3.0±0.20 and *fls te370f/te370f* 0.41±0.39.
  • Eda signaling organizes epidermal signaling centers: *edar* and *eda* are expressed in early scale primordia, and *shh*/*bmp2b* expression is lost in *fls te370f*. Wild-type scale development includes a basal epidermal placode-like structure that is disorganized with cell death in *fls*; in fins, *edar* expression overlaps *shh*/*bmp2b*, and *fls* shows anterior expression loss, anterior-distal cell death, *msxa* misexpression, and distal epidermal degeneration.

Methods

  • Forward ENU mutagenesis screen in zebrafish for adult-viable mutants affecting adult structures; five treatments with 3.3–3.5 mM ethylnitrosourea; strains included Tü, TLF, and WIK; complementation and non-complementation screens isolated *fls* and *Nkt* alleles.
  • Positional cloning and linkage mapping with SSLP markers and radiation hybrid mapping; cDNA cloning by RT-PCR/RACE; quantitative real-time PCR; whole-mount in situ hybridization; acridine orange cell-death assay; alizarin red/alcian blue skeletal staining; light and transmission electron microscopy.
  • Quantitative analyses used scale counts and shape measurements normalized to standard length, with t-tests and Hotelling’s T-squared test; Table 1 reports small genotype groups (n = 2–9 fish), and expression/histology used 7–10 mm juveniles around 30 dpf.

Limitations

  • The paper states that *eda* expression could not be detected in sections due to weak hybridization signal, that a clear *eda* signal could not be resolved in forming fins, and that tooth and skull dermal-bone patterning defects were not characterized in detail.
  • Evident from the text: Table 1’s scale-count comparisons rely on very small samples (n = 2–9 fish per genotype), limiting the strength of quantitative modifier and expressivity conclusions.
  • Evident from the text: several mechanistic inferences about placode function, cell death, and mesenchymal effects are based on expression patterns, histology, and acridine orange retention rather than direct functional rescue or lineage tracing.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000206

Cites

67 of 67 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

22 of 62 cited sources checked · 7 supported · 1 flagged · accuracy not yet measured

Show all 127 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 20
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 60
74 of 74
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Heritable variation in adult form is what natural selection primarily acts on during evolution.

    “it is the heritable variation in adult form that natural selection primarily acts on during evolution.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In zebrafish, as in most teleosts, the majority of dermal skeletal elements are not formed during larval development but through juvenile metamorphosis and development of the adult pattern.

    “in zebrafish, as in most teleosts, the majority of dermal skeletal elements are not formed during larval development, rather through juvenile metamorphosis and development of the adult pattern.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The transmembrane and cytoplasmic death domains of the Edar protein are essential for its function.

    “the transmembrane and cytoplasmic death domains, which are essential for function of this protein, are both absent.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    In tetrapod limb development, anterior-posterior specification is controlled by posterior mesenchyme expressing Shh.

    “In tetrapod limb development anterior-posterior specification is controlled by posterior mesenchyme expressing Shh.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The function of the ZPA expressing Shh is maintained by reciprocal signaling interactions between the ZPA and the AER, and this interaction is necessary for proper patterning and growth of the tetrapod limb.

    “The function of this zone of polarizing activity (ZPA) expressing Shh is maintained by reciprocal signaling interactions between the ZPA and the AER. This interaction is necessary for proper patterning and growth of the tetrapod limb.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Identification of zebrafish genes homologous to human genes associated with disease that arise during postnatal development into adulthood is likely in this screen.

    “Identification of zebrafish genes homologous to human genes associated with disease that arise during postnatal development into adulthood is also likely in this screen.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    msxa is a marker of the distal epithelium.

    “msxa, a marker of the distal epithelium”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The fls te370f allele is a null.

    “fang/te370f, in which the fang allele is in trans to a presumed null”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Post-placodal events of scale formation in fish do not involve morphogenetic changes of the epidermis, rather the accumulation of mesenchymal cells subjacent to the epidermal placodal cells to form the scale pocket.

    “By contrast, the post-placodal events of scale formation in fish do not involve morphogenetic changes of the epidermis, rather the accumulation of mesenchymal cells subjacent to the epidermal placodal cells to form the scale pocket.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Epidermal placodes are involved in the formation of integumentary appendages of other vertebrates such as hair, glands, feathers and teeth.

    “Epidermal placodes are involved in the formation of integumentary appendages of other vertebrates such as hair, glands, feathers and teeth.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    These structures act as signaling centers to orchestrate appendage development.

    “These structures have been shown to act as signaling centers to orchestrate appendage development.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The EDA gene is sex linked in humans.

    “As the EDA gene is sex linked in humans”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    The zebrafish eda gene is autosomal.

    “The zebrafish eda gene is autosomal in the zebrafish.”
13 of 13

Self-check

Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.

Each contradiction between two passages listed here was confirmed by an independent check.

  • Conflicting residue number for the t3R367W allele

    Minor

    The Discussion calls the allele t3R357W, whereas the mutation description and allele designation identify it as t3R367W.

1 of 1

Citations

Cites

Flagged first, then by citations

Show all 67 references

Cited by

Sorted by citations

Items 101–200 of 224

Metadata

Authors
Harris, M. P., Rohner, N., Schwarz, H., Perathoner, S., Konstantinidis, P., & Nüsslein-Volhard, C.
Affiliations
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology (DE)
Corresponding author
Harris, Matthew P.
Venue
PLoS Genetics
Published
2008-10-03
Volume
4
Issue
10
Pages
e1000206
ISSN
  • 1553-7390 (ISSN-L)
  • 1553-7404
OpenAlex
W2086253706
Cited by
224
References
67
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 14 · 2017: 8 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 11
FWCI
4.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS Genetics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Dentistry › General Dentistry › dental development and anomalies
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Zebrafish Biomedical Research Applications
Keywords
ectodysplasin, EDA, EDAR, hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia, zebrafish mutants, dermal skeleton, fin rays, scale, pharyngeal teeth, limb development, developmental canalization, morphological evolution
MeSH terms
Animals, Ectodermal Dysplasia, Epidermis, Humans, Mutation, Skeleton, Vertebrates, Zebrafish, Signal Transduction, Evolution, Molecular, Body Patterning, Zebrafish Proteins, Ectodysplasins, Edar Receptor

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

A language model drew the claims from the paper on 2026-11-02, under version 3 of the claim definition (model deepseek-v4.1-flash, prompt extract-v3).

A second model labelled each claim on 2026-11-02 (model jev-1.13-20260917, definition revision gold-guideline-v0.2).

Cited sources are checked with a language model’s help (gpt-6-sol).

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review