Zebrin II / Aldolase C expression in the cerebellum of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox)
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Date
2015
Authors
Aspden, Joel W.
Armstrong, Carol L.
Gutierrez-Ibanez, Cristian I.
Hawkes, Richard
Iwaniuk, Andrew N.
Kohl, Tobias
Graham, David J.
Wylie, Douglas R.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Public Library of Science
Abstract
Aldolase C, also known as Zebrin II (ZII), is a glycolytic enzyme that is expressed in cerebellar
Purkinje cells of the vertebrate cerebellum. In both mammals and birds, ZII is expressed heterogeneously,
such that there are sagittal stripes of Purkinje cells with high ZII expression (ZII+),
alternating with stripes of Purkinje cells with little or no expression (ZII-). The patterns of ZII+
and ZII- stripes in the cerebellum of birds and mammals are strikingly similar, suggesting that it
may have first evolved in the stem reptiles. In this study, we examined the expression of ZII in
the cerebellum of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). In contrast to birds
and mammals, the cerebellum of the rattlesnake is much smaller and simpler, consisting of a
small, unfoliated dome of cells. A pattern of alternating ZII+ and ZII- sagittal stripes cells was
not observed: rather all Purkinje cells were ZII+. This suggests that ZII stripes have either been
lost in snakes or that they evolved convergently in birds and mammals.
Description
Sherpa Romeo green journal: open access
Keywords
Aldolase C , Zebrin II , ZII expression , Western diamondback rattlesnake , Cerebellum , Purkinje cells , ZII stripes
Citation
Aspden, J. W., Armstrong, C. L., Gutierrez-Ibanez, C. I., Hawkes, R., Iwaniuk, A. N., Kohl, T. ... Wylie, D. R. (2015). Zebrin II / Aldolase C expression in the cerebellum of the western diamondback rattlesnake (Crotalus atrox). PloS ONE, 10(2), e0117539. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0177539