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

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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.

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Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000206

Cites

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Statistics

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Figures

Figure 1 The formation of the adult dermal skeleton and pharyngeal teeth is affected in fls mutant zebrafish. A) Alizarin red-stained wild type adult zebrafish shows staining of the scales, fin rays, dermal bones of the skull as well as the pharyngeal teeth along ceratobranchial 5 (bracket, B) and (C) gill rakers along both the anterior (antGr) and posterior edge (postGr) of non-teeth bearing ceratobranchials. D) fls te370f shows loss of dermal skeletal structures of the fin rays, scales and alteration in the shape of the skull. Additionally, fls te370f shows loss of pharyngeal teeth (E) and gill rakers (F). G–I) The Topless allele (flsdt3Tpl) shows a dominant effect on scalation and tooth/gill raker formation while not affecting lepidotrichial growth. J–L) Expressivity of fls dt3Tpl is sensitive to a modifier in the Tü strain leading to a “weak” fls dt3Tpl phenotype; fls dt3Tpl homozygotes were phenotypically identical to fls te370f (not shown). The fang allele of fls, fls tfang, isolated in a non-complementation screen with fls te370f, shows no effect on fin development while exhibiting partial loss of scales (M), teeth (N), and gill rakers (O). Transallelic tfang/te370f zebrafish exhibit an intermediate phenotype between homozygous fls(te370f) and fls(tfang) (P–R).
Figure 1 The formation of the adult dermal skeleton and pharyngeal teeth is affected in fls mutant zebrafish. A) Alizarin red-stained wild type adult zebrafish shows staining of the scales, fin rays, dermal bones of the skull as well as the pharyngeal teeth along ceratobranchial 5 (bracket, B) and (C) gill rakers along both the anterior (antGr) and posterior edge (postGr) of non-teeth bearing ceratobranchials. D) fls te370f shows loss of dermal skeletal structures of the fin rays, scales and alteration in the shape of the skull. Additionally, fls te370f shows loss of pharyngeal teeth (E) and gill rakers (F). G–I) The Topless allele (flsdt3Tpl) shows a dominant effect on scalation and tooth/gill raker formation while not affecting lepidotrichial growth. J–L) Expressivity of fls dt3Tpl is sensitive to a modifier in the Tü strain leading to a “weak” fls dt3Tpl phenotype; fls dt3Tpl homozygotes were phenotypically identical to fls te370f (not shown). The fang allele of fls, fls tfang, isolated in a non-complementation screen with fls te370f, shows no effect on fin development while exhibiting partial loss of scales (M), teeth (N), and gill rakers (O). Transallelic tfang/te370f zebrafish exhibit an intermediate phenotype between homozygous fls(te370f) and fls(tfang) (P–R).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 2 The dominant gene Nkt is phenotypically similar, however complements fls mutants. Nkt homozygotes show complete loss of scales, teeth and gill rakers resembling the fls phenotype (A–C). Heterozygous Nkt zebrafish show an intermediate phenotype of scale loss and patterning defect (arrows) while no effect on fin development is seen (D). Heterozygous Nkt also show a dominant effect on the number of teeth (arrows, E) and gill rakers (F), showing deficiencies along the posterior branchial arches and formation of rudimentary rakers along ceratobranchial 1 and 2 (arrows, F). Cb1-5, ceratobranchial bones.
Figure 2 The dominant gene Nkt is phenotypically similar, however complements fls mutants. Nkt homozygotes show complete loss of scales, teeth and gill rakers resembling the fls phenotype (A–C). Heterozygous Nkt zebrafish show an intermediate phenotype of scale loss and patterning defect (arrows) while no effect on fin development is seen (D). Heterozygous Nkt also show a dominant effect on the number of teeth (arrows, E) and gill rakers (F), showing deficiencies along the posterior branchial arches and formation of rudimentary rakers along ceratobranchial 1 and 2 (arrows, F). Cb1-5, ceratobranchial bones.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 3 fls and Nkt are mutations in genes encoding ectodysplasin receptor (edar) and its ligand ectodysplasin (eda). A) Mapping of fls using SSLP markers and placement of the edar gene within the candidate region on LG 9 by radiation hybrid mapping. The insert shows genetic linkage of the fls gene to local markers on LG 9. The numbers on the right of the insert indicate the number of recombinants seen in identified mutants per the number of meioses tested. B) Schematic of wild type Edar protein and mutant alleles. Polymorphisms seen in the WIK strain are noted above the wild type gene. Mutations that lead to premature termination are represented as truncated proteins showing the predicted residual fragment and position of the identified mutation. C) Analysis of the mutation in fls dfang. A unique splice donor site (red) is generated leading to inclusion of additional coding sequence encoding a premature termination codon (underlined). D) Quantitative analysis of different edar transcript levels in fls dfang homozygotes compared with wildtype. E) Similarity of altered residues in fls t3R367Wand fls dt3Tpl with human HED shown in the death domain. The position of the mutated residues in fls t3R367W (blue box) and in fls dt3Tpl (red box) is identical to ones changed in cases of human autosomal dominant HED although the substitution is different. F) Linkage between the Nkt allele and eda on LG5. G) Schematic of wild type Eda protein and position of Nkt mutation. Numbers on gene diagrams represent amino acid length. TNF, tumor necrosis factor domain; TNFR, tumor necrosis factor receptor domain; TM, transmembrane domain; DD, death domain; the blue box in Eda is the furin binding site.
Figure 3 fls and Nkt are mutations in genes encoding ectodysplasin receptor (edar) and its ligand ectodysplasin (eda). A) Mapping of fls using SSLP markers and placement of the edar gene within the candidate region on LG 9 by radiation hybrid mapping. The insert shows genetic linkage of the fls gene to local markers on LG 9. The numbers on the right of the insert indicate the number of recombinants seen in identified mutants per the number of meioses tested. B) Schematic of wild type Edar protein and mutant alleles. Polymorphisms seen in the WIK strain are noted above the wild type gene. Mutations that lead to premature termination are represented as truncated proteins showing the predicted residual fragment and position of the identified mutation. C) Analysis of the mutation in fls dfang. A unique splice donor site (red) is generated leading to inclusion of additional coding sequence encoding a premature termination codon (underlined). D) Quantitative analysis of different edar transcript levels in fls dfang homozygotes compared with wildtype. E) Similarity of altered residues in fls t3R367Wand fls dt3Tpl with human HED shown in the death domain. The position of the mutated residues in fls t3R367W (blue box) and in fls dt3Tpl (red box) is identical to ones changed in cases of human autosomal dominant HED although the substitution is different. F) Linkage between the Nkt allele and eda on LG5. G) Schematic of wild type Eda protein and position of Nkt mutation. Numbers on gene diagrams represent amino acid length. TNF, tumor necrosis factor domain; TNFR, tumor necrosis factor receptor domain; TM, transmembrane domain; DD, death domain; the blue box in Eda is the furin binding site.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 4 The role of edar in expression of developmental patterning genes during early scale development. Expression of edar (A, B) and eda (C, D) in early forming scales; arrowheads indicate site of expression of initial forming scales. A) edar expression above site of scale formation in 8 mm long (approximately 30 dpf juvenile fish) and in larger juveniles (9 mm; 30 dpf). C) eda expression during early scale development on the flank (8 mm) and in forming scales of older juvenile fish (10 mm, D). Expression of developmental genes bmp2b and shh in early scale development in wildtype (E, G) and fls te370f (F, H) juveniles (9 mm).
Figure 4 The role of edar in expression of developmental patterning genes during early scale development. Expression of edar (A, B) and eda (C, D) in early forming scales; arrowheads indicate site of expression of initial forming scales. A) edar expression above site of scale formation in 8 mm long (approximately 30 dpf juvenile fish) and in larger juveniles (9 mm; 30 dpf). C) eda expression during early scale development on the flank (8 mm) and in forming scales of older juvenile fish (10 mm, D). Expression of developmental genes bmp2b and shh in early scale development in wildtype (E, G) and fls te370f (F, H) juveniles (9 mm).CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 5 Eda signaling regulates the formation of an epidermal placode during scale development. Histological analysis of wild type (A, D, B, E) and fls te370f (C, F, I) integument of 8 mm standard length. In wild type juveniles (B, E), basal epidermal cells (black arrow heads) show a heightened, and cuboidal morphology at sites of scale development as indicated by an accumulation of migrating fibroblast-like cells (white arrowheads). (H) This morphology of the epidermis is associated with a reworking of the collagen layer of the stratum compactum (cpt; [24]). This is in contrast to the flattened morphology of basal epidermal cells lateral to those of the scale placode (A, D) and underlying dense stratum compactum (G). In fls te370f this basal epidermal structure is disorganized and cell morphology is disrupted (C, F) including evidence of cell death (asterisk). The lack of reworking of the collagen of the stratum compactum in the fls te370f mutant is associated with retention of hemidesmosomes (horizontal bracket G–I). edar is expressed in cells of the wildtype epidermis (J, K, L). Counterstaining of the same sections confirms the expression in basal cells overlying initial accumulating fibroblasts (white arrowheads; J′, K′, L′). Expression of edar is observed prior to organization of the placode and fibroblast aggregation and maintained in cells of the epidermal placode through early scale development (J–L). M) Schematic depicting scale development and edar expression. The stages of scale development are modeled using analogous stages as described for hair development [35]; stage 0, nascent epidermis; stage 1, placode specification; stage 2, scale pocket; stage 3, matrix deposition and ossification. Blue, edar expression; red, scale formation. ep, epidermis; cpt stratum compactum. The vertical bracket demarcates the extent of the epidermis in the sections. Measurement bar equals 10 μm.
Figure 5 Eda signaling regulates the formation of an epidermal placode during scale development. Histological analysis of wild type (A, D, B, E) and fls te370f (C, F, I) integument of 8 mm standard length. In wild type juveniles (B, E), basal epidermal cells (black arrow heads) show a heightened, and cuboidal morphology at sites of scale development as indicated by an accumulation of migrating fibroblast-like cells (white arrowheads). (H) This morphology of the epidermis is associated with a reworking of the collagen layer of the stratum compactum (cpt; [24]). This is in contrast to the flattened morphology of basal epidermal cells lateral to those of the scale placode (A, D) and underlying dense stratum compactum (G). In fls te370f this basal epidermal structure is disorganized and cell morphology is disrupted (C, F) including evidence of cell death (asterisk). The lack of reworking of the collagen of the stratum compactum in the fls te370f mutant is associated with retention of hemidesmosomes (horizontal bracket G–I). edar is expressed in cells of the wildtype epidermis (J, K, L). Counterstaining of the same sections confirms the expression in basal cells overlying initial accumulating fibroblasts (white arrowheads; J′, K′, L′). Expression of edar is observed prior to organization of the placode and fibroblast aggregation and maintained in cells of the epidermal placode through early scale development (J–L). M) Schematic depicting scale development and edar expression. The stages of scale development are modeled using analogous stages as described for hair development [35]; stage 0, nascent epidermis; stage 1, placode specification; stage 2, scale pocket; stage 3, matrix deposition and ossification. Blue, edar expression; red, scale formation. ep, epidermis; cpt stratum compactum. The vertical bracket demarcates the extent of the epidermis in the sections. Measurement bar equals 10 μm.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 6 Fin development is defective in fls and Nkt mutant zebrafish. Alizarin red stained adult zebrafish fins show a drastic effect of fls te370f and Nkt on development of the lepidotrichial dermal rays of both the paired and unpaired fins. A–C,F) Pectoral fins, anterior-dorsal view; D, E) double staining developing pectoral fins with alcian blue and alizarin red show early patterning of the endochondrial bones of the pectoral fin of size matched wild type and Nkt homozygotes (asterisk indicates loss of fourth proximal radial). G) effect of fls and Nkt mutants on the patterning of the pectoral fin skeleton scored as the number of specimens showing alteration in pattern or form over total analyzed. The identity of the proximal radials is noted (I–IV). H–J) Analysis of pelvic fin development in fls and Nkt mutants. Numbers denote anterior-posterior identity of the lepidotrichia. K–M) Defects in the formation of the lepidotrichia in adult anal and (N–P) caudal fin of fls (L and O) and Nkt (M and P). ap, ascending process; cl, cleithrum; co, corticoid; dr, distal radial; sc, scalpula, le, lepidotrichia; pcl, postcleithrum; pr, proximal radial.
Figure 6 Fin development is defective in fls and Nkt mutant zebrafish. Alizarin red stained adult zebrafish fins show a drastic effect of fls te370f and Nkt on development of the lepidotrichial dermal rays of both the paired and unpaired fins. A–C,F) Pectoral fins, anterior-dorsal view; D, E) double staining developing pectoral fins with alcian blue and alizarin red show early patterning of the endochondrial bones of the pectoral fin of size matched wild type and Nkt homozygotes (asterisk indicates loss of fourth proximal radial). G) effect of fls and Nkt mutants on the patterning of the pectoral fin skeleton scored as the number of specimens showing alteration in pattern or form over total analyzed. The identity of the proximal radials is noted (I–IV). H–J) Analysis of pelvic fin development in fls and Nkt mutants. Numbers denote anterior-posterior identity of the lepidotrichia. K–M) Defects in the formation of the lepidotrichia in adult anal and (N–P) caudal fin of fls (L and O) and Nkt (M and P). ap, ascending process; cl, cleithrum; co, corticoid; dr, distal radial; sc, scalpula, le, lepidotrichia; pcl, postcleithrum; pr, proximal radial.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 7 Eda signaling and the maintenance of anterior-posterior pattern in late paired fin development. Analysis of edar (A–B, E–F), shh (C–D, G–H), and bmp2b (I–L) expression in developing pectoral (A–D, –J) and pelvic fins (E–H, K–L) from 8 mm juvenile fish of wild type (A, E; C, G; I, K) and fls te370f mutant fish (B, F; D, H; J, L). A–B) Arrowheads indicate two distinct patterns of edar expression in the pectoral fin: an expression that marks the posterior edge and distal region of the development of the proximal radials (black); and a posterior bias of edar expression in the forming lepidotrichia (white). Arrows point out the remaining posterior expression in mutant fins. Brackets in all panels outline anterior deficiencies in gene expression in fls mutant fins. M–P, analysis of patterns of cell death in the developing paired fins by retention of acridine orange stain. N, P) Arrows point out anterior distal regions of cell death in both pectoral and pelvic fins from the mutant; (M, N) pectoral fin and (O, P) pelvic fin respectively. Q, R) Expression of msxa in wild type and mutant pectoral fins. Region of expression outlined with brackets; asterisk marks an ectopic site of expression.
Figure 7 Eda signaling and the maintenance of anterior-posterior pattern in late paired fin development. Analysis of edar (A–B, E–F), shh (C–D, G–H), and bmp2b (I–L) expression in developing pectoral (A–D, –J) and pelvic fins (E–H, K–L) from 8 mm juvenile fish of wild type (A, E; C, G; I, K) and fls te370f mutant fish (B, F; D, H; J, L). A–B) Arrowheads indicate two distinct patterns of edar expression in the pectoral fin: an expression that marks the posterior edge and distal region of the development of the proximal radials (black); and a posterior bias of edar expression in the forming lepidotrichia (white). Arrows point out the remaining posterior expression in mutant fins. Brackets in all panels outline anterior deficiencies in gene expression in fls mutant fins. M–P, analysis of patterns of cell death in the developing paired fins by retention of acridine orange stain. N, P) Arrows point out anterior distal regions of cell death in both pectoral and pelvic fins from the mutant; (M, N) pectoral fin and (O, P) pelvic fin respectively. Q, R) Expression of msxa in wild type and mutant pectoral fins. Region of expression outlined with brackets; asterisk marks an ectopic site of expression.CC BY · PubMed Central
Figure 8 Eda signaling is required for the function of the fin fold during late fin development. Expression of bmp2b (A), shh (B) and edar (C) transcripts in developing juvenile (8 mm, 30 dpf) fin rays of the caudal fin; asterisks indicate regional expression within distal tip of developing ray; arrows in (C), expression in distal epidermis of the fin fold. D–I) Histological analysis of both paired (pectoral, D, E) and unpaired fins (anal F, G; and caudal, H, I) from fls te370f and wild type siblings. fls te370f fins showed a general deficiency in the maturation of the muscle and dermis of the fin (arrow G; acellular debris in anal fin of fls). Insets (D, E), tip of fin at higher magnification showing degeneration of the nuclei of the epidermis in the mutant fin. ffd, fin fold; le, lepidotrichia of the fin rays.
Figure 8 Eda signaling is required for the function of the fin fold during late fin development. Expression of bmp2b (A), shh (B) and edar (C) transcripts in developing juvenile (8 mm, 30 dpf) fin rays of the caudal fin; asterisks indicate regional expression within distal tip of developing ray; arrows in (C), expression in distal epidermis of the fin fold. D–I) Histological analysis of both paired (pectoral, D, E) and unpaired fins (anal F, G; and caudal, H, I) from fls te370f and wild type siblings. fls te370f fins showed a general deficiency in the maturation of the muscle and dermis of the fin (arrow G; acellular debris in anal fin of fls). Insets (D, E), tip of fin at higher magnification showing degeneration of the nuclei of the epidermis in the mutant fin. ffd, fin fold; le, lepidotrichia of the fin rays.CC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

93 Own result · 55 Own interpretation · 21 No full text of the sources · 12 Partly supported · 12 No basis given · 4 Supported so far · 3 Supported · 1 Not supported · accuracy not yet measured

  • 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

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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.

1 of 1

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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

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