nagie oko, encoding a MAGUK-family protein, is essential for cellular patterning of the retina.
A layered organization of cells is a common architectural feature of many neuronal formations. Mutations of the zebrafish gene nagie oko (nok) produce a severe disruption of retinal architecture, indicating a key role for this locus in neuronal patterning. We show that nok encodes a membrane-associated guanylate kinase-family scaffolding protein. Nok localizes to the vicinity of junctional complexes in retinal neuroepithelium and in the photoreceptor cell layer. Mosaic analysis indicates that the nok retinal patterning phenotype is not cell-autonomous. We propose that nok function in patterning of postmitotic neurons is mediated through neuroepithelial cells and is necessary for guiding neurons to their proper destinations in retinal laminae.
Wei
Xiangyun
X
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School/MEEI, 243 Charles Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
Malicki
Jarema
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics; D051528:Guanylate Kinases; D007365:Intercellular Junctions / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D009703:Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D012160:Retina / Q000196:embryology* / Q000502:physiology; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics
D009703:Nucleoside-Phosphate Kinase; D051528:Guanylate Kinases