Ankk1 Loss of Function Disrupts Dopaminergic Pathways in Zebrafish

Bibliographic Details
Title: Ankk1 Loss of Function Disrupts Dopaminergic Pathways in Zebrafish
Authors: Adele Leggieri, Judit García-González, Jose V. Torres-Perez, William Havelange, Saeedeh Hosseinian, Aleksandra M. Mech, Marcus Keatinge, Elisabeth M. Busch-Nentwich, Caroline H. Brennan
Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience, Vol 16 (2022)
Publisher Information: Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.
Publication Year: 2022
Collection: LCC:Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
Subject Terms: ANKK1, DRD2, dopaminergic system, addiction, amisulpride, apomorphine, Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, RC321-571
More Details: Ankyrin repeat and kinase domain containing 1 (ANKK1) is a member of the receptor-interacting protein serine/threonine kinase family, known to be involved in cell proliferation, differentiation and activation of transcription factors. Genetic variation within the ANKK1 locus is suggested to play a role in vulnerability to addictions. However, ANKK1 mechanism of action is still poorly understood. It has been suggested that ANKK1 may affect the development and/or functioning of dopaminergic pathways. To test this hypothesis, we generated a CRISPR-Cas9 loss of function ankk1 zebrafish line causing a 27 bp insertion that disrupts the ankk1 sequence introducing an early stop codon. We found that ankk1 transcript levels were significantly lower in ankk1 mutant (ankk127ins) fish compared to their wild type (ankk1+/+) siblings. In ankk1+/+ adult zebrafish brain, ankk1 protein was detected in isocortex, hippocampus, basolateral amygdala, mesencephalon, and cerebellum, resembling the mammalian distribution pattern. In contrast, ankk1 protein was reduced in the brain of ankk127ins/27ins fish. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed an increase in expression of drd2b mRNA in ankk127ins at both larval and adult stages. In ankk1+/+ adult zebrafish brain, drd2 protein was detected in cerebral cortex, cerebellum, hippocampus, and caudate homolog regions, resembling the pattern in humans. In contrast, drd2 expression was reduced in cortical regions of ankk127ins/27ins being predominantly found in the hindbrain. No differences in the number of cell bodies or axonal projections detected by anti-tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining on 3 days post fertilization (dpf) larvae were found. Behavioral analysis revealed altered sensitivity to effects of both amisulpride and apomorphine on locomotion and startle habituation, consistent with a broad loss of both pre and post synaptic receptors. Ankk127ins mutants showed reduced sensitivity to the effect of the selective dopamine receptor antagonist amisulpride on locomotor responses to acoustic startle and were differentially sensitive to the effects of the non-selective dopamine agonist apomorphine on both locomotion and habituation. Taken together, our findings strengthen the hypothesis of a functional relationship between ANKK1 and DRD2, supporting a role for ANKK1 in the maintenance and/or functioning of dopaminergic pathways. Further work is needed to disentangle ANKK1’s role at different developmental stages.
Document Type: article
File Description: electronic resource
Language: English
ISSN: 1662-453X
Relation: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2022.794653/full; https://doaj.org/toc/1662-453X
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.794653
Access URL: https://doaj.org/article/d30b7eef273e45cb91265d3e056fc9c7
Accession Number: edsdoj.30b7eef273e45cb91265d3e056fc9c7
Database: Directory of Open Access Journals
More Details
ISSN:1662453X
DOI:10.3389/fnins.2022.794653
Published in:Frontiers in Neuroscience
Language:English