Adamts9 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 9) is one of few metalloproteinases structurally conserved from C. elegans to humans and is indispensable in germ cell migration in invertebrates. However, adamts9’s roles in germ cell migration in vertebrates has not been examined. In the present study, we found zygotic expression of adamts9 started around germ ring stage and reached peak levels at 3 days post fertilization (dpf) in zebrafish. Germ cell migration completed within 24 hours in wildtype sibling, while a delay in germ cell migration was found at 15 and 24-hours post-fertilization (hpf) in the Adamts9 knockout (KO). However, this delayed effect of Adamts9 KO disappeared at 48 hpf. Our study suggests a conserved function of Adamts9 in germ cell migration among invertebrates and vertebrates. In addition, our results also suggest that Adamts9 is not essential for germ cell migration as reported in C. elegans, possibly due to expansion of Adamts family members and compensatory roles from another metalloproteinase in vertebrates. Further studies are required in order to elucidate the functions and mechanisms of metalloproteinases in germ cell migration and gonad formation in vertebrates.
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