Regulatory gene expression patterns reveal transverse and longitudinal subdivisions of the embryonic zebrafish forebrain.
To shed light on the organization of the rostral embryonic brain of a lower vertebrate, we have directly compared the expression patterns of dlx, fgf, hh, hlx, otx, pax, POU, winged helix and wnt gene family members in the fore- and midbrain of the zebrafish. We show that the analyzed genes are expressed in distinct transverse and longitudinal domains and share expression boundaries at stereotypic positions within the fore- and midbrain. Some of these shared expression boundaries coincide with morphological landmarks like the pathways of primary axon tracts. We identified a series of eight transverse diencephalic domains suggestive of neuromeric subdivisions within the rostral brain. In addition, we identified four molecularly distinct longitudinal subdivisions and provide evidence for a strong bending of the longitudinal rostral brain axis at the cephalic flexure. Our data suggest a strong conservation of early forebrain organization between lower and higher vertebrates.
Hauptmann
G
G
Biozentrum der Universität Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 70, CH-4056, Basel, Switzerland. hauptman@ruf.uni-freiburg.de
Gerster
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001368:Axis, Cervical Vertebra; D019521:Body Patterning; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005136:Eye Proteins; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; D016548:Prosencephalon / Q000196:embryology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C088334:Distal-less homeobox proteins; D005136:Eye Proteins; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; C489999:Hlx protein, mouse; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D051762:PAX2 Transcription Factor; D000071841:PAX6 Transcription Factor; D050809:POU Domain Factors; D051761:Paired Box Transcription Factors; C000605732:Pax6 protein, mouse; D011506:Proteins; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; C093661:Tes protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C490000:dbx1a protein, zebrafish; C497320:pax2a protein, zebrafish; C099994:pou3f1 protein, zebrafish