Propofol Impairs Specification of Retinal Cell Types in Zebrafish by Inhibiting Zisp-mediated Noggin-1 Palmitoylation and Trafficking
Abstract Background: Propofol can have adverse effects on developing neurons, leading to cognitive disorders. However, the mechanism remains elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of propofol on neuronal development in zebrafish. Methods: The effect of propofol on neuronal development was demonstrated by a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. mRNA injections, Whole-mount in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, TUNEL, EdU, Co-Immunoprecipitation and acyl–biotin exchange (ABE) labeling method were carried out to demonstrate the potential mechanisms of propofol-mediated zisp expression and specification of retinal cell types.Results: Propofol impaired the specification of retinal cell types, thereby inhibiting neuronal and glial cell formation in retinas, mainly through inhibition of Zisp expression. Furthermore, Zisp promoted the secretion of a soluble form and the stabilization of a membrane-associated form of Noggin-1, a specific palmitoylation substrate.Conclusions: Propofol caused a severe phenotype during neuronal development in zebrafish. Our findings established a direct link between an anesthetic agent and protein palmitoylation in the regulation of neuronal development. This could be used to investigate the mechanisms via which the improper use of propofol might result in neuronal defects.