PUBLICATION
Transgene driving GFP expression from the promoter of the zona pellucida gene zpc is expressed in oocytes and provides an early marker for gonad differentiation in zebrafish
- Authors
- Onichtchouk, D., Aduroja, K., Belting, H.G., Gnügge, L., and Driever, W.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-031103-9
- Date
- 2003
- Source
- Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists 228(3): 393-404 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Belting, Heinz-Georg Paul (Henry), Driever, Wolfgang, Gnügge, Lara
- Keywords
- zebrafish, oogenesis, zona pellucida, ZP3, green fluorescent protein, sex differentiation, FIGalpha
- MeSH Terms
-
- Sequence Alignment
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
- Female
- Zona Pellucida/physiology*
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics*
- PubMed
- 14579378 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Abstract
Although mechanisms of sex differentiation have been studied intensely in mammals, insects, and worms, little is known about this process in lower vertebrates. To establish a marker for female gonad differentiation in zebrafish, we generated a transgenic line in which 412 bp from the promoter and 5' mRNA leader of the female-specific zebrafish zona pellucida gene zpc are fused to the coding region of green fluorescent protein (GFP). The zpc0.5:GFP transgene is expressed exclusively in oocytes, starting from the onset of female-specific differentiation, and closely resembles the expression pattern of the wild-type zpc. Strong GFP expression persists throughout oogenesis and is visible through the body wall of females. We have also characterized a putative upstream factor of zpc, FIGalpha, and show that distribution of FIGalpha RNA is compatible with its postulated role in the regulation of zpc. The zpc0.5:GFP transgenic line described here will be useful for studying oocyte development and the mechanisms that determine sex-specific gene expression in the zebrafish. It is also the first promoter characterized to date to drive stable and efficient expression specifically in the zebrafish female germline.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping