Microarray expression profiling of fndc3a zebrafish mutants

Fndc3a is one member of the FNDC-super family and contains nine fibronectin type III domains. These fibronectin type III domains are a common feature of a large number of extracellular proteins and are evolutionary conserved in a large number of species. Molecular studies have shown FNDC3A expression in human odontoblasts (Carrouel et al 2008). Functional experiments in Symplastic spermatids (sys) knockout mice indicated that Fndc3a is essential for cell adhesion between spermatids and Sertoli cells, resulting in sterile males after depletion (Obholz et al, 2006). Our previous work has shown that interference with Fndc3a function in zebrafish (Danio rerio) CRISPR/Cas9 mutants results in defects during tail bud development and caudal fin regeneration (Liedtke et al, 2019). The purpose of this follow-up study was to investigate potential downstream targets of Fndc3a during zebrafish development.