# Molecular and Genetic Analysis of Fin Regeneration in Zebrafish

> **NIH NIH R35** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2022 · $377,095

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Regenerative capacity is widespread throughout almost all animal phyla, but the distributing pattern
appears to be inexplicable. This diverse regenerative distribution raises questions of how animals evolve toward
loss or gain of regenerative capacity and of what cellular and molecular mechanisms control regenerative ability.
One feature of regeneration is that innervation is essential for peripheral tissue regeneration. Previous studies
have shown that nerves are involved in multiple regeneration processes from early to late regenerative events
and that distinct neuronal subtypes, such as cholinergic and sensory neurons, play different roles during tissue
regeneration. However, whether neuronal excitation is required for tissue regeneration and which neuronal
subtypes are associated with these processes remains poorly known. Obtaining a genetically amenable animal
model will uniquely permit the identification of the essential neuronal subtypes and establishing their roles in
tissue regeneration. Through forward genetic screening to discover novel regeneration-associated genes, we
recently discovered a new zebrafish mutant exhibiting locomotion disorder and impaired fin regeneration in a
temperature-dependent manner. Whole-exome sequencing and further fine genetic mapping analysis identified
a missense mutation in the scn8a gene, which encodes the major neuronal voltage-gated sodium channel
Nav1.6. We will develop a new paradigm for ion channel-regulated tissue regeneration. We will take advantage
of the temperature sensitivity of scn8a mutation to define how scn8a mutation influences locomotion behavior
and multiple regenerative processes. We will elucidate principles for neurons as essential drivers of tissue
regeneration. We will address the challenge of whether neuronal Scn8a is required for locomotion and tissue
regeneration and which Scn8a expressing neuronal subtypes are associated with fin regenerative processes. In
addition to scn8a mutant, we will investigate the other two mutants, each of which exhibits either fin re-growth
defects or impaired re-patterning, to uncover unidentified regeneration-associated genes and underlying
mechanisms. The proposed study will construct genetic models for tissue regeneration, leading to the discovery
of valuable genes regulating tissue regeneration and establishment of regenerative networks.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10439645
- **Project number:** 5R35GM137878-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** Junsu Kang
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $377,095
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-07-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10439645

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10439645, Molecular and Genetic Analysis of Fin Regeneration in Zebrafish (5R35GM137878-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10439645. Licensed CC0.

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