Sequence analysis of zebrafish chondromodulin-1 and expression profile in the notochord and chondrogenic regions during cartilage morphogenesis

Chondromodulin-1 (ChM-1) is suggested in higher vertebrate systems to funct ion as a key regulatory protein for cartilage development. To further under stand the process of chondrogenesis and the function of ChM-1, we have clon ed the zebrafish cDNA for chondromodulin-1 (chm1) and have mapped the chm1 gene locus. The expression profile of chm1 was determined during zebrafish embryonic development and compared to that of type II collagen (col2a1). Ma ternal chm1 transcripts were detected before midblastula transition and zyg otic expression of chm1 was first observed in the notochord at the 10-somit e stage. At later developmental stages, chm1 expression was detected in are as surrounding the otic vesicles, in the developing craniofacial cartilage elements, and in the chondrogenic region of the pectoral fins. (C) 2001 Els evier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.