Zebrafish Prpf18 Antibody / Pre-mRNA-splicing factor 18

In zebrafish, Prpf18 is an ortholog of the human PRPF18 gene. The zebrafish and human proteins are highly conserved, particularly within domains essential for spliceosomal interactions and catalytic activity. This conservation suggests functional equivalency between species, making zebrafish a relevant model for studying pre-mRNA splicing and its regulation in development and disease. Zebrafish Prpf18 may have isoforms arising from alternative splicing events, although isoform-specific functions are still under investigation. The presence of multiple isoforms may allow differential regulation of splicing in a tissue-specific or developmental stage-specific manner. During zebrafish embryogenesis, Prpf18 is broadly expressed, with notable enrichment in rapidly dividing and transcriptionally active tissues such as the neural tube and developing somites. Its expression is crucial for early development, as disruption of splicing machinery can lead to widespread defects in gene regulation, cell cycle control, and differentiation. Given its central role in RNA splicing, zebrafish Prpf18 is important for studies related to gene expression regulation, developmental biology, and spliceosome-associated disorders. It also serves as a useful model for understanding human genetic diseases caused by splicing defects, including certain neurodegenerative and retinal disorders.