The zebrafish erythropoietin: Functional identification and biochemical characterization

In the present study, the zebratish epo cDNA was cloned. The encoded protein displays 90%, 55% and 32% identity to the Epo from carp, fugu and human, respectively. Through RTPCR, the expression of zepo mRNA was mainly in the heart and liver. In the COS-1 cell transfection experiments, the recombinant zEpo-HA protein was efficiently secreted into the culture medium as a glycoprotein and the carbohydrate moiety can be cleaved by the treatment of peptide-N-glycosidase F (PNGase F). Using the morpholino approach, we showed that zepo morphants displayed severe anemia leading to high mortality during development. Such an effect can be significantly rescued by zepo RNA. Furthermore, in the absence of functional zEpo, the expression of specific markers for adult globin genes, such as alpha A1- and beta A1-globin, but not the embryonic beta e1-globin, was affected. (c) 2007 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.