RNA-seq of zebrafish sa12692 mutants against WT controls

Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy is a congenital heart disorder characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the myocardium. The exact molecular mechanisms underlying the disease remain to be elucidated and treatment options are limited. The sa12692 mutant line contains a splice site mutation in the plakoglobin gene, resulting in the expression of a truncated protein. This protein is highly similar to the protein expressed in Naxos disease, a recessive form of ARVC. RNA-seq was used to investigate the effect of the sa12692 mutation on gene expression in order to uncover signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of ARVC. Gene expression was examined in whole larvae at 5 dpf and in hearts of 1 year old adult fish. Larvae at 5 dpf were selected as this timepoint is equivalent to birth in humans. Adult hearts were selected as ARVC is a disorder of the heart and cardiac symptoms generally manifest in adulthood. Hence, the molecular effect of the mutation could be profiled at two life stages.