High impact information on mdkb

• These data indicate that mdka and mdkb underwent functional divergence after duplication [1].
• Ectopic ubiquitous expression of both mdk genes in early zebrafish embryos caused completely distinct effects on neural crest and floorplate development [1].
• In mammals, the unique midkine (mdk) gene encodes a secreted heparin-binding growth factor with neurotrophic activity [1].
• Zebrafish mdka and mdkb genes map to linkage groups LG7 and LG25, respectively, both presenting synteny to human chromosome 11, in which the unique human ortholog mdk is located [1].
• Ectopic expression of mdk2 enhances neural crest cell fates at the lateral edges of the caudal neural plate, concomitant with a repression of anterior structures and mesendodermal and ectodermal markers [2].

Biological context of mdkb

• In contrast to the ubiquitous expression of their mammalian counterpart, zebrafish mdka and mdkb are expressed in spatially restricted, mostly nonoverlapping patterns during embryonic development and strongly in distinct domains in the adult brain [1].

Other interactions of mdkb

• Analyses in mutant zebrafish embryos shows that expression of mdk2 is independent of FGF8 and nodal-related-1 signaling, but is under negative control of BMP signaling [2].

References