Melanophore Migration and Survival during Zebrafish Adult Pigment Stripe Development Require the Immunoglobulin Superfamily Adhesion Molecule Igsf11

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002899
• Publication Date: 2012-08-16T21:21:57Z
• Authors: Dae Seok Eom; Shinya Inoue; Larissa B. Patterson; Tiffany N. Gordon; Rebecca Slingwine; Shigeru Kondo; Masakatsu Watanabe; David M. Parichy
• Keywords: Immunoglobulin superfamily; Melanophore; Immunoglobulin gene; Morpholino

The zebrafish adult pigment pattern has emerged as a useful model for understanding the development and evolution of form well pattern-forming mechanisms more generally. In this species, series horizontal melanophore stripes arises during larval-to-adult transformation, but genetic cellular bases stripe formation remain largely unknown. Here, we show that seurat mutant phenotype, consisting an irregular spotted pattern, from lesions in gene encoding Immunoglobulin superfamily member 11 (Igsf11). We find Igsf11 is expressed by melanophores their precursors, demonstrate cell transplantation rescue igsf11 functions autonomously to lineage promoting development. Further analyses behaviors vitro, vivo, explant cultures ex vivo mediates adhesive interactions mutants exhibit defects both migration survival precursors. These findings identify first requirements instance immunoglobulin functioning patterning. Our results provide new insights into morphogenesis how mediate formation.