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
-
- Consensus Sequence
- Cell Differentiation/genetics*
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Sequence Alignment
- DNA-Binding Proteins/chemistry
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- Female
- Recombinant Proteins/analysis
- Transcription Factors/chemistry
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Male
- Promoter Regions, Genetic/genetics*
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
- Luminescent Proteins/analysis
- Luminescent Proteins/genetics*
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics*
- Zebrafish/embryology*
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
- Oocytes/physiology*
- Animals
- Sex Differentiation/genetics
- Zona Pellucida/physiology*
- Green Fluorescent Proteins
- PubMed
- 14579378 Full text @ Dev. Dyn.
Citation
Onichtchouk, D., Aduroja, K., Belting, H.G., Gnügge, L., and Driever, W. (2003) 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. Developmental Dynamics : an official publication of the American Association of Anatomists. 228(3):393-404.
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