title: Expression of the G protein gammaT1 subunit during zebrafish development.
abstract: Here, we report the identification and expression analysis of the zebrafish G protein gammaT1 subunit gene (gngT1) during development. Similar to its human and mouse homologs, we confirm zebrafish gngT1 is expressed in the developing retina, where its transcription overlaps with the photoreceptor cell-specific marker, rhodopsin (rho). Surprisingly, we also show zebrafish gngT1 is expressed in the dorsal diencephalon, where its transcription overlaps with the pineal specific markers, arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase-2 (annat-2) and extra-ocular rhodopsin (exorh). Analysis of the proximal promoter sequence of the zebrafish gngT1 gene identifies several conserved binding sites for the cone-rod homeobox/orthodenticle (Crx/Otx) homeodomain family of transcription factors. Using a morpholino anti-sense approach in zebrafish, we show that targeted knockdown of otx5 potently suppresses gngT1 expression in the pineal gland, whereas knockdown of crx markedly reduces gngT1 expression in the retina. Taken together, these data indicate that pineal- and retinal-specific expression of the gngT1 gene are controlled by different transcription factors and exogenous signals.
authors.affiliation: Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Health System, Danville, PA 17822, USA.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tinchung
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Kathryn E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Giger
authors.forename: Anna M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stauffer
authors.forename: Jasper E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Humbert
authors.forename: Soniya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: Eric J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Horstick
authors.forename: Carl A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: Janet D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Robishaw
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015347:RNA Probes; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000378:metabolism; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D044388:GTP-Binding Protein gamma Subunits; C521434:GngT1 protein, zebrafish; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D051857:Otx Transcription Factors; D015347:RNA Probes; D015534:Trans-Activators; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C109288:cone rod homeobox protein; D012243:Rhodopsin