摘要:Trrap (transformation/transcription domain-associated protein) is a component shared by several histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes and participates in transcriptional regulation and DNA repair; however, the developmental functions of Trrap in vertebrates are not fully understood. Recently, it has been reported that human patients with genetic mutations in the
TRRAP gene show various symptoms, including facial dysmorphisms, microcephaly and global developmental delay. To investigate the physiological functions of Trrap, we established
trrap gene-knockout zebrafish and examined loss-of-function phenotypes in the mutants. The
trrap zebrafish mutants exhibited smaller eyes and heads than the wild-type zebrafish. The size of the ventral pharyngeal arches was reduced and the mineralization of teeth was impaired in the
trrap mutants. Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis revealed that
dlx3 expression was narrowly restricted in the developing ventral pharyngeal arches, while
dlx2b expression was diminished in the
trrap mutants. These results suggest that
trrap zebrafish mutants are useful model organisms for a human disorder associated with genetic mutations in the human
TRRAP gene.