Primary Structure and Developmental Expression of Zebrafish Sodium Channel Na v 1.6 during Neurogenesis

Abstract

A zebrafish sodium channel cDNA encoding a 1949-amino acid polypeptide, Na_v1.6, was isolated. Two transcripts were detected in zebrafish adult brain but not in cardiac or skeletal muscle. The RNase protection analysis confirmed the neural specificity of zebrafish Na_v1.6 24 hours postfertilization (hpf) Na_v1.6 was expressed in the trigeminal ganglion, anterior and posterior lateral line ganglia, rhombomeres, and Rohon-Beard neurons. This preferential localization suggests that Na_v1.6 plays an important role in tactile sensitivity. The abundance of zebrafish Na_v 1.6 mRNA in the central and peripheral nervous systems increased markedly between 48 and 72 hpf, during the maturation of the nervous system.