The zebrafish vitronectin receptor: Characterization of integrin αV and β3 expression patterns in early vertebrate development

alphaVbeta3 is a receptor for vitronectin and other extracellular matrix ligands, and it has been implicated in angiogenesis and osteoclast function in mammals. We have cloned full-length cDNAs of zebrafish integrin alphaV (itgalphaV), and two paralogous zebrafish beta3 integrins (itgbeta3.1 and itgbeta3.2). Whole-mount in situ hybridization analysis revealed that alphaV and beta3.1 share overlapping expression domains in apical ectodermal ridge, ventricular myocardium, hypothalamus, posterior tuberculum, medial tectal proliferation zone, and in the odontogenic field of the bilateral pharyngeal dentitions. In contrast to beta3.1, beta3.2 is transiently expressed throughout the developing embryo. In situ hybridization profiles and heterologous expression of proteins in tissue culture cells suggest that beta3.1 is the major beta3 paralog that associates with alphaV in zebrafish. Furthermore, when beta3.1 expression profiles are compared to those of other potential alphaV partners (beta1, beta5, and beta8), pharyngeal dentitions appear to represent a unique expression field for alphaV and beta3.1.