Characterisation of duplicate zinc finger like 2 erythroid precursor genes in zebrafish.
In separate expression pattern and micro-array screens the zinc finger containing factor, znfl2, has been previously implicated in hematopoiesis. Here we analysed znfl2 expression in detail and performed genetic epistatic analysis in a series of hematopoietic mutants and transient gain-of-function models. znfl2 expression in the hematopoietic intermediate mesoderm and derived erythrocytes required early genes cloche and spadetail, but not gata1. Expression was up-regulated in scl gain-of-function embryos, identifying znfl2 as an early erythroid factor that is regulated upstream or independently of gata1. Furthermore, we identified a duplicate znfl2 gene in the genome (znfl2b) which was expressed in early mesendoderm and weakly in the lateral plate mesoderm, overlapping in expression with znfl2. The production of loss-of-function models for znfl2, znfl2b and znfl2/znfl2b together suggested that these erythrocyte specific zinc finger genes are dispensible for erythropoiesis.
Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Benjamin M
BM
Hogan
Luke
L
Pase
Nathan E
NE
Hall
Graham J
GJ
Lieschke
D000818:Animals; D004920:Erythropoiesis / Q000235:genetics*; D020440:Gene Duplication; D015870:Gene Expression; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D016335:Zinc Fingers
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014157:Transcription Factors; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C519486:Znfl2a protein, zebrafish