PUBLICATION
The homeobox gene irx1a is required for the propagation of the neurogenic waves in the zebrafish retina
- Authors
- Cheng, C.W., Yan, C.H., Hui, C.C., Strähle, U., and Cheng, S.H.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-060210-6
- Date
- 2006
- Source
- Mechanisms of Development 123(3): 252-263 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Cheng, Shuk Han, Strähle, Uwe
- Keywords
- Zebrafish, Retinogenesis, Wave propagation, Iroquois, Sonic hedgehog
- MeSH Terms
-
- Transcription Factors/genetics*
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Eye Diseases/genetics
- Eye Diseases/metabolism
- Animals
- Hedgehog Proteins/genetics
- Hedgehog Proteins/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation
- Zebrafish
- Retinal Ganglion Cells/metabolism*
- Fibroblast Growth Factors/metabolism
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics*
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- Animals, Genetically Modified
- Retina/cytology
- Retina/embryology*
- Retina/metabolism
- Eye/embryology*
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics*
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism
- Signal Transduction
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- PubMed
- 16457994 Full text @ Mech. Dev.
Citation
Cheng, C.W., Yan, C.H., Hui, C.C., Strähle, U., and Cheng, S.H. (2006) The homeobox gene irx1a is required for the propagation of the neurogenic waves in the zebrafish retina. Mechanisms of Development. 123(3):252-263.
Abstract
Neurogenesis in the compound eyes of Drosophila and the camera eyes of vertebrates spreads in a wave-like fashion. In both phyla, waves of hedgehog expression are known to drive the wave of neuronal differentiation. The mechanism controlling the propagation of hedgehog expression during retinogenesis of the vertebrate eye is poorly understood. The Iroquois homeobox genes play important roles in Drosophila eye development; they are required for the up-regulation of hedgehog expression during propagation of the morphogenetic furrow. Here, we show that the zebrafish Iroquois homolog irx1a is expressed during retinogenesis and knockdown of irx1a results in a retinal phenotype strikingly similar to those of sonic hedgehog (shh) mutants. Analysis of shh-GFP transgene expression in irx1a knockdown retinas revealed that irx1a is required for the propagation of shh expression through the retina. Transplantation experiments illustrated that the effects of irx1a on shh expression are both cell-autonomous and non-cell-autonomous. Our results reveal a role for Iroquois genes in controlling hedgehog expression during vertebrate retinogenesis.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping