PUBLICATION
Isolation and characterization of a zebrafish homologue of the cone rod homeobox gene
- Authors
- Liu, Y., Shen, Y.C., Rest, J.S., Raymond, P.A., and Zack, D.J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-010220-2
- Date
- 2001
- Source
- Investigative ophthalmology & visual science 42(2): 481-487 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Raymond, Pamela
- Keywords
- none
- MeSH Terms
-
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Blotting, Northern
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA/analysis
- DNA Probes
- Gene Library
- Genetic Linkage
- Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*
- Homeodomain Proteins/isolation & purification*
- Humans
- In Situ Hybridization
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Otx Transcription Factors
- Pineal Gland/chemistry
- Retina/chemistry*
- Retina/metabolism
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Trans-Activators/biosynthesis
- Trans-Activators/genetics*
- Trans-Activators/isolation & purification*
- Transfection
- Zebrafish*
- PubMed
- 11157887
Citation
Liu, Y., Shen, Y.C., Rest, J.S., Raymond, P.A., and Zack, D.J. (2001) Isolation and characterization of a zebrafish homologue of the cone rod homeobox gene. Investigative ophthalmology & visual science. 42(2):481-487.
Abstract
PURPOSE. To isolate and characterize a zebrafish CRX: homologue. Mammalian CRX: genes are expressed specifically in photoreceptors and pinealocytes, regulate photoreceptor gene expression, are necessary for normal photoreceptor differentiation, and when mutated cause a variety of photoreceptor degenerations. METHODS. A zebrafish retinal cDNA library was screened with a human CRX cDNA probe. Radiation hybrid mapping, Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and transient transfection studies were performed using standard methods. RESULTS. Based on amino acid sequence comparisons, zebrafish crx shows 50% identity with human CRX, and 85% identity in the homeodomain. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that zebrafish crx is most closely related to the mammalian Crx proteins, and more distantly related to the Otx proteins. Zebrafish crx maps between 49.6 and 54.5 cm from the top of linkage group LG05C, a map position consistent with the location of the mouse and human CRX genes. Northern blot analysis and in situ hybridization indicate that zebrafish crx is expressed in the retina and pineal gland. In adult zebrafish, crx is expressed by both rods and cones in the outer nuclear layer, and in cells in the outer zone of the inner nuclear layer, in the region occupied by bipolar cells. Similar to mammalian Crx, zebrafish crx interacts with neural retinal leucine zipper (Nrl) to activate, although weakly, rhodopsin promoter activity. CONCLUSIONS. Based on molecular phylogeny, chromosomal location, expression pattern, and ability to activate rhodopsin promoter activity in transient transfection assays, zebrafish crx appears to be an orthologue and functional homologue of mammalian CRX.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping