# The Mutation of piezo1 Weakens the Intermuscular Bones in Zebrafish and Crucian Carp

## TL;DR

This study shows that the Piezo1 gene is important for the development of intermuscular bones in fish, and its mutation leads to smaller bones, which could help in breeding fish without these bones.

## Contribution

The study reveals the conserved role of Piezo1 in intermuscular bone development across teleost species.

## Key findings

- piezo1 knockout in zebrafish resulted in shorter and smaller intermuscular bones.
- similar results were observed in crucian carp, confirming the conserved role of Piezo1.
- Piezo1 is identified as a key regulator of intermuscular bone development.

## Abstract

Intermuscular bones (IBs), unique skeletal features found only in teleost fishes, pose significant challenges to food processing and consumption. While recent studies have identified several key genetic regulators of IB development, the role of mechanosensory mechanisms remains largely unexplored. This study investigated the role of Piezo1, a critical mechanosensitive ion channel, in IB formation using zebrafish and crucian carp models. Our findings demonstrated that piezo1 was expressed in the myoseptum of zebrafish, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of this gene resulted in shorter and smaller IBs. Similar knockout experiments in crucian carp confirmed the conserved role of Piezo1 across cyprinid species. These results established Piezo1 as a key regulator of IB development, providing new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this process and suggesting potential strategies for breeding IB-free fish strains through modulation of mechanosensory pathways.