Genetic compensation of γ CaMKII, an evolutionarily conserved gene.

CaMKII is a Ca/CaM-dependent protein kinase encoded by a family of conserved genes found throughout all metazoan species and expressed from fertilization into adulthood. One of these genes, camk2g1, is particularly important during early development as determined by pharmacologic, dominant negative and antisense morpholino approaches in zebrafish. Four other teleost fish species (cavefish, medaka, stickleback, and tilapia), exhibit sequence conservation of camk2g1 and duplication of the same CaMKII genes.

Calcium signals act through histone deacetylase to mediate pronephric kidney morphogenesis.

Background: Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is the most common monogenetic kidney disorder and is linked to mutations in PKD1 and PKD2. PKD2, a Ca -conducting TRP channel enriched in ciliated cells and gated by extracellular signals, is necessary to activate the multifunctional Ca calmodulin-dependent protein kinase type 2 (CaMK-II), enabling kidney morphogenesis and cilia stability.

Results: In this study, antisense morpholino oligonucleotides and pharmacological compounds were employed to investigate the roles of class II HDAC family members (HDAC 4, 5, and 6) in Zebrafish kidney development.