Control of Crystal Size and Lattice Formation by Starmaker in Otolith Biomineralization

Abstract

The stone-like otoliths from the ears of teleost fishes are involved in balance and hearing and consist of calcium carbonate crystallites embedded in a protein framework. We report that a previously unknown gene, starmaker , is required in zebrafish for otolith morphogenesis. Reduction of starmaker activity by injection of modified antisense oligonucleotides causes a change in the crystal lattice structure and thus a change in otolith morphology. The expression pattern of starmaker , along with the presence of the protein on the growing otolith, suggest that the expression levels of starmaker control the shape of the otoliths.