PUBLICATION

Bsx controls pineal complex development

Authors
Schredelseker, T., Driever, W.
ID
ZDB-PUB-180628-2
Date
2018
Source
Development (Cambridge, England)   145(13): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Driever, Wolfgang, Schredelseker, Theresa
Keywords
Brain asymmetry, Brain-specific homeobox transcription factor, Bsx, Epithalamus, Habenula, Melatonin, Parapineal organ, Photoreceptors, Pineal gland
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Cell Differentiation/physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
  • Melatonin/biosynthesis
  • Melatonin/genetics
  • Pineal Gland/cytology
  • Pineal Gland/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/embryology*
  • Zebrafish/genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins/biosynthesis*
  • Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
PubMed
29945867 Full text @ Development
Abstract
Neuroendocrine cells in the pineal gland release melatonin during the night and, in teleosts, are directly photoreceptive. During development of the pineal complex, a small number of cells migrate leftward away from the pineal anlage to form the parapineal cell cluster, a process that is crucial for asymmetrical development of the bilateral habenular nuclei. Here, we show that, throughout zebrafish embryonic development, the brain-specific homeobox (bsx) gene is expressed in all cell types of the pineal complex. We identified Bmp and Noto/Flh as major regulators of bsx expression in the pineal complex. Upon loss of Bsx through the generation of a targeted mutation, embryos fail to form a parapineal organ and develop right-isomerized habenulae. Crucial enzymes in the melatonin biosynthesis pathway are not expressed, suggesting the absence of melatonin from the pineal gland in bsx mutants. Several genes involved in rod-like or cone-like phototransduction are also abnormally expressed, indicating that Bsx has a pivotal role in the differentiation of multiple cell types in the zebrafish pineal complex.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping