bioRxiv Science⌕ Search
Home/Archive/bioRxiv

bioRxiv · 10.1101/2025.01.16.632701

Zebrafish adamtsl4 knockout recapitulates key features of human ADAMTSL4-related diseases: a gene involved in extracellular matrix organization, cell junctions and development

Tevar, A.·Aroca-Aguilar, J.-D.·Atienzar-Aroca, R.·Ramirez, A. I.·Fernandez-Albarral, J. A.·Escribano, J.
View original source ↗Export metadata ↓

Abstract

Loss-of-function mutations in ADAMTSL4, a gene encoding an extracellular matrix-associated protein with incompletely understood biological roles, are linked to autosomal recessive disorders predominantly characterized by lens dislocation. Pupil ectopia, increased intraocular pressure, retinal detachment, cataracts, and skeletal abnormalities are also observed in some patients. To investigate ADAMTSL4 biology and related diseases we established a zebrafish knockout line using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. The generated zebrafish model harboured the c.234-351del mutation in adamstsl4, reducing its mRNA levels by 75% in 6 days post fertilization (dpf) larvae, and predicting to produce an inactive protein (p.(Gln78Hisfs*127)). Forty percent of F3 knockout larvae (6 dpf) displayed lethal phenotypes characterized by multiple ocular and non-ocular developmental defects, including pericardial, perivitelline and periocular edema, absence of swim bladder, craniofacial malformations and microphthalmia. The remaining 60% larvae survived and displayed only reduced pupil area, indicating incomplete penetrance of the lethality. Histology revealed extracellular matrix (ECM) and intercellular junctions abnormalities within the cornea, iris, lens, and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Adult knockout zebrafish (6 months) presented phenotypes resembling ectopia lentis et pupillae and craniosynostosis, with optical defects in the lens and impaired visual function. ECM and cell junction disorganization in the cornea, lens and RPE were also present in these animals. Transcriptomic analysis revealed disrupted expression of genes involved in development, ECM and cell junctions among other biological processes. These findings show that adamtsl4 recapitulates key features of human ADAMTSL4-related disorders and that this gene is essential for normal ECM structure, cell junctions and embryonic development. HighlightsO_LIZebrafish adamtsl4 knockout recapitulates human ADAMTSL4-related phenotypes. C_LIO_LIadamtsl4 is involved in embryonic development. C_LIO_LIadamtsl4 participates in ECM organization and cell adhesion. C_LI

Source connections

Explore related subjects

geneticsPreprint

Keep this discovery

Explore connections, maps & timelines

BibTeXRIS

Tevar, A., Aroca-Aguilar, J.-D., Atienzar-Aroca, R., Ramirez, A. I., Fernandez-Albarral, J. A., Escribano, J.. 2025-01-18. Zebrafish adamtsl4 knockout recapitulates key features of human ADAMTSL4-related diseases: a gene involved in extracellular matrix organization, cell junctions and development. https://doi.org/10.1101/2025.01.16.632701

Cite the original work for its findings. Save a collection to share your selection of sources.

KEEP EXPLORING

Related preprints

bioRxiv2026

The histone demethylase Kdm5 and the ARGONAUTE proteins Piwi and Aubergine regulate female abdominal pigmentation in Drosophila melanogaster

Insect pigmentation is an ecologically critical trait influencing many physiological processes. In Drosophila melanogaster, abdominal pigmentation is sexually dimorphic: males have fully pigmented posterior segments, while females exhibit a posterior melanin stripe. Pigmentation relies on the expression of pigmentation genes that encode enzymes involved in pigment synthesis. These genes are tightly regulated during pupal and young adult stages. To expand the gene regulatory network of pigmentation genes, we conducted an RNAi screen using the yellow-Gal4 driver, expressed during the pupal stage in abdominal epidermis. One of the candidates from this screen, Kdm5, encodes a histone demethylase erasing the H3K4me3 histone mark catalyzed by the histone methyl-transferase Trithorax (Trx). We show that Kdm5 down-regulation reduces abdominal pigmentation, mimicking trx down-regulation. Kdm5 activates melanin production through regulation of the pigmentation gene tan. Transcriptomic analyses reveal that Kdm5 and Trx share many targets in pupal abdominal epidermis, including piRNA pathway components such as piwi and aubergine. These piRNA components, originally associated with transposon silencing in the germline, also function in some somatic tissues such as the nervous system, the fat body or the gut. We demonstrate that Piwi and Aubergine participate in female abdominal pigmentation establishment, without evident piRNA production. We also show that Kdm5 and Piwi act not only in pupal abdominal epidermis but also in pupal fat body. This study therefore expands the regulatory network of pigmentation genes. It identifies a new somatic function for Kdm5 and Piwi and reveals a role for pupal fat body in female abdominal pigmentation regulation.

genetics↗
bioRxiv2026

Genetic diversity within and between polyploid sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) families obtained via caryopsis using microsatellite markers and multicategory model

Genetic diversity analyses are essential for sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs. Crossbreeding, based on genetic distances between parental plants, is a tool used to increase genetic variability and enhance plant selection; however, quantifying variation in highly polyploid species remains a challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the diversity within and between 12 families of sugarcane derived from caryopses, analyzing 120 individual seedlings arranged in an augmented block design. Genotyping was performed using primers for 16 microsatellite loci, five simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci, and 11 expressed sequence tag-SSR (EST-SSR) loci. To accurately account for polyploidy, similarity calculations were performed using Bruvos distances among individuals and RST distances among the families. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that most of the genetic variability was within families (72%), with only 28% found between them. This high level of intra-family variation demonstrates that a significant reservoir of genetic diversity remains available within the crosses. The highest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB986952 x RB986960 and RB036122 x RB03611, whereas the lowest genetic similarity was observed between the families RB97319 x RB966928 and RB106802 x RB855036. Although the evaluated families shared high genetic similarity, the pronounced genetic variation within them demonstrates a robust recombination potential, indicating that the genetic basis of sugarcane can be better explored using the high variability that already exists in the selection of desirable morpho-agronomic characteristics within the families. Furthermore, this study highlights the importance of using appropriate distances for diversity studies with codominant markers, such as microsatellites, in polyploid species.

genetics↗
bioRxiv2026

Optimizing DNA extraction from environmentally degraded bone samples for molecular identification of cetacean species

Molecular identification of cetacean bone remains can be limited by DNA degradation and the presence of PCR inhibitors. Here, we present an optimized DNA extraction protocol based on a total demineralization method for environmentally exposed cetacean bones. The protocol uses 100 mg of bone powder, 24 h digestion with EDTA, N-lauroylsarcosine, and proteinase K, followed by a modified silica-column purification. Nine environmentally degraded bone samples representing eight individuals were processed. DNA concentrations ranged from 7.3 to 57.1 ng/uL (mean SD = 25.91- 13.91 ng/uL). The mitochondrial cytochrome b gene was successfully amplified from all samples using conventional PCR, and five samples (55.6%) yielded sequences suitable for downstream analysis. BLASTn identified Balaenoptera physalus as the closest database match for all recovered sequences, and phylogenetic analysis further supported their association with B. physalus reference sequences. These results demonstrate that the proposed protocol provides a practical approach for recovering amplifiable and molecularly informative mitochondrial DNA from environmentally degraded cetacean bone material, facilitating molecular identification from challenging skeletal remains.

genetics↗