Molecular cloning and expression of two small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP) genes, dspg3l and optcl, in zebrafish.

Epiphycan (DSPG3) and opticin are two class III small leucine-rich proteoglycans (SLRP). We isolated two zebrafish cDNAs, dspg3l and optcl, that encode proteins homologous to epiphycan and opticin in other vertebrates. Like epiphycans in other species, dspg3l is exclusively expressed in the developing notochord and cartilage. optcl is expressed transiently in the developing nervous system, eyes and somites much like opticin. The zebrafish dspg3l and optcl genes are located in linkage group 4 and 11, respectively. The genomic locations for both genes in zebrafish are syntenic with the genomic locations of dspg3 and opticin (optc) in human and mouse. Synteny and the expression patterns of these genes suggest that the dspg3l and optcl are the orthologs to the mammalian dspg3 and optc genes, respectively.