Expression of the chaperonin 10 gene during zebrafish development

We have isolated a cDNA encoding chaperonin 10 (cpn10) from the zebrafish. Using northern, western, and in situ hybridization analysis, we observed th at the cpn10 gene is expressed uniformly and ubiquitously throughout embryo nic development of the zebrafish. Upregulation of cpn10 expression was obse rved following exposure of zebrafish embryos to a heat shock of 1 hour at 3 7 degreesC compared to control embryos raised at 27 degreesC. The extracell ular form of Cpn10 called early pregnancy factor (EPF), found in the serum of pregnant mammals, was not detected in the serum of either male or female zebrafish. These expression studies suggest that Cpn10 plays a general rol e in zebrafish development as well as being consistent with the hypothesis that EPF is involved in the embryo implantation process in mammals.