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Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is associated with the development of craniofacial musculature in the teleost fish Sparus aurata

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences volume 69, pages 423–434 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is involved in major cellular mechanisms such as regulation of gene transcription and cytoskeleton modulation, participating in physiological control of cardiogenesis and osteogenesis. Knowledge on underlying mechanisms is, however, limited. We present here new data on FHL2 protein and its role during vertebrate development using a marine teleost fish, the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.). In silico comparison of vertebrate protein sequences and prediction of LIM domain three-dimensional structure revealed a high degree of conservation, suggesting a conserved function throughout evolution. Determination of sites and levels of FHL2 gene expression in seabream indicated a central role for FHL2 in the development of heart and craniofacial musculature, and a potential role in tissue calcification. Our data confirmed the key role of FHL2 protein during vertebrate development and gave new insights into its particular involvement in craniofacial muscle development and specificity for slow fibers.

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Abbreviations

CDS:

Coding sequence

DPF:

Days post fertilization

EST:

Expressed sequence tag

FHL2:

Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2

HPF:

Hours post fertilization

LIM:

Lin11, Isl-1 and Mec-3 proteins

WGS:

Whole genome shotgun

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially funded by grant GOCE-CT-2004-505403 (Marine Genomics Europe, FICEL project) from the European Commission under the 6th Framework Program. MS Rafael, A Bensimon-Brito and RB Leite are the recipients of doctoral fellowships (SFRH/BD/22695/2005, SFRH/BD/40573/2007 and SFRH/BD/30112/2006, respectively) from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation (FCT). Authors are grateful to Pedro Pousão-Ferreira and Luísa Dâmaso Rodrigues (Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e das Pescas—INIAP–IPIMAR/CRIPSul, Olhão, Portugal) and Dominique Schuchardt and Marisol Izquierdo (Grupo de Investigación en Acuicultura, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain) for seabream eggs and larvae, respectively. Authors also thank P. Eckhard Witten (Ghent University) for helpful discussion.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Centre of Marine Sciences (CCMAR), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    Marta S. Rafael, Vincent Laizé, Anabela Bensimon-Brito, Ricardo B. Leite & M. Leonor Cancela

  2. Department of Urology/Women’s Hospital and Center for Clinical Research, University of Freiburg Medical Center, Breisacherstrasse 66, 79106, Freiburg, Germany

    Roland Schüle

  3. Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine (DCBM), University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139, Faro, Portugal

    M. Leonor Cancela

Authors
  1. Marta S. Rafael
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  2. Vincent Laizé
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  3. Anabela Bensimon-Brito
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  4. Ricardo B. Leite
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  5. Roland Schüle
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  6. M. Leonor Cancela
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vincent Laizé.

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Supplementary Fig. S1 (JPG 200 kb)

Supplementary Fig. S2 (DOC 54 kb)

Supplementary Fig. S3. (DOC 57 kb)

18_2011_754_MOESM4_ESM.doc

Fig. S4 Taxonomic tree of the 38 species included in FHL2 protein analysis, according to Taxonomy Browser at NCBI; * indicates species with evidence of a second gene. (DOC 107 kb)

Supplementary Fig. S5 (DOC 39 kb)

Supplementary Fig. S6 (JPG 661 kb)

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Rafael, M.S., Laizé, V., Bensimon-Brito, A. et al. Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2 (FHL2) is associated with the development of craniofacial musculature in the teleost fish Sparus aurata . Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 69, 423–434 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0754-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-011-0754-y

Keywords

  • Four-and-a-half LIM domains protein 2, FHL2
  • Teleost fish
  • Gene expression patterns
  • Muscle development
  • 3D protein structure