News

A joint initiative between researchers at RIBES and Radboudumc has led to new insights into the functions of a gene that in humans is implicated in cleft palate and thyroid dysgenesis. A zebrafish mutant was generated that has a disruption in the nuclear localization signal in the foxe1 gene. Skeletal development and thyroidogenesis in these mutants were investigated, focusing on embryonic and larval stages.
13 March 2023

Ammonia accumulation is a major challenge in intensive aquaculture, where fish are fed protein-rich diets in large rations, resulting in increased ammonia production when amino acids are metabolized as energy source. Ammonia is primarily excreted via the gills, which have been found to harbor nitrogen-cycle bacteria that convert ammonia into dinitrogen gas (N2) and therefore present a potential in situ detoxifying mechanism.A research team from Animal Physiology and Microbiology, in collaboration with Wageningen University, determined the impact of feeding strategies (demand-feeding and batch-feeding) with two dietary protein levels on growth, nitrogen excretion, and nitrogen metabolism in common carp (Cyprinus carpio, L.) in a 3-week feeding experiment. Demand-fed fish exhibited significantly higher growth rates, though with lower feed efficiency. When corrected for feed intake, nitrogen excretion was not impacted by feeding strategy or dietary protein, but demand-fed fish had significantly more nitrogen unaccounted for in the nitrogen balance and less retained nitrogen. N2 production of individual fish was measured in all experimental groups, and production rates were in the same order of magnitude as the amount of nitrogen unaccounted for, thus potentially explaining the missing nitrogen in the balance. N2 production by carp was also observed when groups of fish were kept in metabolic chambers. Demand feeding furthermore caused a significant increase in hepatic glutamate dehydrogenase activities, indicating elevated ammonia production. However, branchial ammonia transporter expression levels in these animals were stable or decreased. Together, the results suggest that feeding strategy impacts fish growth and nitrogen metabolism, and that conversion of ammonia to N2 by nitrogen cycle bacteria in the gills may explain the unaccounted nitrogen in the balance.
7 February 2023
Pharmacological targeting of FGFR1-4 kinase signaling causes severe craniofacial malformations in zebrafish larvae, whereas abrogation of FGFR2 kinase signaling alone does not induce craniofacial skeletal abnormalities. These findings were recently published by researchers from Dentistry (Radboudumc) and Animal Ecology and Physiology (Radboud University). The results will further the understanding of the role of FGFRs in the etiology of craniofacial malformations.
17 December 2022

In the last decade, predictions of impacts of climate change on biodiversity, and how to model changes in species distributions have gained relatively more attention than the importance of understanding physiological principles of an organism in predicting its response to climate change. Therefore, we recently launched a PhD research project into the combined effects of climate change factors (thermal stress, hypoxia, acidification) on (skeletal) development in early fish developmental stages. The investigation will increase our insights in the effects and interactions of climate change-induced environmental changes on fish development and vulnerability.
12 December 2022

The Radboud Zebrafish Facility has two new zebrafish systems that together provide space for more than 250 tanks. They are the most modern, recirculating housing systems, equipped with light blue polycarbonate tanks to prevent algae growth. The systems are also equipped with mechanical, chemical and biological filtration, UV disinfection and buffering. In this way, less stress for the animals and better fish welfare is guaranteed.
16 August 2022
The molecular mechanisms of retinal degeneration due to compromised formation and function of the USH2-associated protein complex remain elusive. In a recent publication, researchers joining in the Radboud Zebrafish Facility took another step to unravel this pathogenic mechanism. They have isolated and characterized whirlin-associated protein complexes from zebrafish photoreceptor cells. They generated transgenic zebrafish that express Strep/FLAG-tagged Whrna, a zebrafish ortholog of human whirlin, under the control of a photoreceptor-specific promoter.
8 July 2022
Since linkage of human RAB28 mutations to inherited blindness and cone-rod dystrophy, studies have focused on Rab28 function in the retina. However, there remains a vast gap in understanding of the protein networks regulated by Rab28. Researchers from, among others, the zebrafish facility endeavored to bridge that void, to shed more light on Rab28 function and Rab28-CRD disease mechanisms. Thie study uncovered that Rab28 is required from the larval zebrafish stage for the burst of RPE phagocytosis, of the photoreceptor outer segments at both dawn and dusk peaks. They further investigated the regulation of OSP in the zebrafish model and the role of Rab28. Using a gene complementation approach, it was found that Rab28 plays an important role in the cone photoreceptors, as cone-specific expression of Rab28 was sufficient to restore the OSP defect in the knockout model. Proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry demonstrates loss of Rab28 effects the expression profile of several known regulators of OSP and identified potential novel regulators of the OSP process. rab28 KO can result in long-term physiological effects on the retina, as retinoid and bisretinoid analysis on therab28 KO revealed altered levels of visual cycle components, as well as an increase in the toxic vitamin A compound A2PE.
9 June 2022

Researchers from the department of Otorhinolaryngology generated and characterized an ush2ap.(Cys771Phe) zebrafish knock-in model, mimicking human p.(Cys759Phe). They used functional and immunohistochemical analyses. Besides the homozygous c.2276 G > T USH2A variant, no alternative genetic causes were identified. Evaluation of the ush2ap.(Cys771Phe) zebrafish model revealed strongly reduced levels of usherin expression at the photoreceptor periciliary membrane, increased levels of rhodopsin localization in the photoreceptor cell body and decreased electroretinogram (ERG) b-wave amplitudes compared to wildtype controls. In conclusion, we confirmed pathogenicity of USH2A c.2276 G > T (p.(Cys759Phe)). Consequently, cases homozygous for c.2276 G > T can now receive a definite genetic diagnosis and can be considered eligible for receiving future QR-421a-mediated exon 13 skipping therapy.
9 June 2022
Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors originating from the adrenal medulla or sympathetic ganglia, respectively. Currently, there is no effective treatment for patients with metastatic or inoperable PPGLs. In this project, strategies will be applied to accelerate tumor development in adult zebrafish to unravel underlying pathogenic mechanisms and to evaluate therapeutic strategies in vivo.
16 May 2022
In collaboration with researchers from the Hubrecht Institute in Utrecht, Sanne Broekman and Erwin van Wijk generated a zebrafish model of Sgo1 that showed its importance during organ development and function.Read more here
24 March 2022