Functional Role of Annexins in Zebrafish Caudal Fin Regeneration – A Gene Knockdown Approach in Regenerating Tissue

Regeneration is an adaptive phenomenon with wide biological implications spread heterogeneously in almost all the organism including human beings. The ability of regeneration varies from species to species for its impediment. Epimorphic regeneration of zebrafish caudal fin tissue is most widely studied regeneration mechanism for its discrete and rapid regenerative capability. Several genes/proteins were found to be associated with zebrafish caudal fin tissue regeneration. Here, we have evaluated the functional role of Annexin 2a and 2b genes in adult zebrafish caudal fin tissue undergoing regeneration using a novel CRSISPR-Cas9 gene knock down approach. Knock down of both the genes individually elicited in decelerated regeneration and down regulation of target genes and its partner genes/proteins such as ANXA1a, ANXA5b and ANXA13. This study validates a novel gene targeting approach and the possible role of annexin in regeneration mechanism.