Collagen4 fluorescent protein knock-in lines reveal remodeling of cardiovascular basement membranes

Venus-tagged zebrafish col4a1 and col4a2 knock-in lines show dynamic Collagen4 deposition, with progressive increases during cardiovascular development and regeneration.

• Why it matters: Basement membrane remodeling in the cardiovascular system is incompletely mapped at the level of individual components, limiting understanding of how structure changes guide regeneration.
• What they did: The Venus fluorescent protein was integrated in frame into endogenous col4a1 and col4a2, enabling live confocal imaging of Col4 expression during development and heart regeneration.
• The result: During regeneration, Col4a2 accumulates at the injury site in early stages and becomes increasingly associated with newly regenerated myocardium, supporting stage-specific reorganization.

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