FIGURE 5.

Increase in Rkip levels results in cilia-related defects in zebrafish embryos. A, indicated doses of RKIP mRNA and maximum dose (500 pg) of GFP mRNA were injected into zebrafish embryos. Total number of defective embryos (morphants) was assessed at 4 dpf and quantified. B, representative pictures of embryos with overexpression of Rkip or GFP (control). C, ectopic expression of Rkip results in ciliary defects in zebrafish embryos. Injection of 500 pg of Rkip mRNA results in tail extension abnormalities, hydrocephaly, and pericardial effusion. As a control, we injected 500 pg of GFP mRNA. D, ectopic expression of Rkip affects photoreceptor morphology as evidenced by analysis of toluidine blue-stained plastic-embedded retinas at 4 dpf. E, overexpression of Rkip affects KV cilia formation and extension. KV cilia were analyzed by immunostaining with the ciliary marker acetylated α-tubulin (Ac α-tubulin; red). F represents quantification of length (left) and number (right) of KV cilia. Data represent mean ± S.D. of three independent experiments (p < 0.001).