Fonseca, V. G.Rosa, JoanaLaizé, VincentGavaia, Paulo J.Cancela, Leonor2014-06-042014-06-042011Fonseca, V.G.; Rosa, J.; Laizé, V.; Gavaia, P.J.; Cancela, M.L. Identification of a new cartilage-specific S100-like protein up-regulated during endo/perichondral mineralization in gilthead seabream, Gene Expression Patterns, 11, 7, 448-455, 2011.1567-133XAUT: LCA00739;http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/4178Calcium ions and calcium-binding proteins play a major role in many cellular processes, in particular skeletogenesis and bone formation. We report here the discovery of a novel S100 protein in fish and the analysis of its gene expression patterns. A 648-bp full-length cDNA encoding an 86-amino acid S100-like calcium-binding protein was identified through the subtractive hybridization of a gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) cDNA library constructed to identify genes associated with in vitro mineralization. Deduced protein lacks an identifiable signal peptide and exhibits two EF-hand motifs characteristic of S100 proteins. Phylogenetic and bioinformatic analyses of S100 sequences suggested that gilthead seabream protein represents a novel and fish-specific member of the S100 protein family. Expression of S100-like gene was up-regulated during the in vitro mineralization of bone-derived cell lines and during seabream development, from larvae throughout adulthood, reflecting skeletogenesis. Restriction of S100-like gene expression to chondrocytes of cartilaginous tissues undergoing endo/perichondral mineralization in juvenile fish further confirmed the mineralogenic role of the protein in fish and emphasized the potential of S100-like as a marker of mineralizing cartilage in developing fish.engGilthead seabream Sparus aurata L.TeleosteiBone-derived cell lineTissue mineralizationCalcium-binding proteinSubtractive libraryjournal article2014-05-30http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.gep.2011.07.003