title: Identification and characterization of zebrafish ocular formation genes.
abstract: To study genes that are specifically expressed in the eyes, we employed microarray and in situ hybridization analyses to identify and characterize differentially expressed ocular genes in eyeless masterblind (mbl-/-) zebrafish (Danio rerio). Among 70 differentially expressed genes in the mbl-/- mutant identified by microarray analysis, 8 down-regulated genes were characterized, including 4 eye-specific genes, opsin 1 short-wave-sensitive 1 (opn1sw1), crystallinbetaa1b (cryba1b), crystallinbetaa2b (cryba2b), and crystallingamma M2d3 (crygm2d3); 2 eye and brain genes, ATPase, H+ transporting, lysosomal, V0 subunit c (atp6v0c) and basic leucine zipper and W2 domains 1a (bzw1a); and 2 constitutive genes, heat shock protein 8 (hspa8) and ribosomal protein L7a (rpl7a). In situ hybridization experiments confirmed down-regulation of these 8 ocular formation genes in mbl-/- zebrafish and showed their ocular and dynamic temporal expression patterns during zebrafish early development. Further, an automated literature analysis of the 70 differentially expressed genes identified a sub-network of genes with known associations, either with each other or with ocular structures or development, and shows how this study contributes to the current body of knowledge.
authors: Department of Zoology and Stephenson Research and Technology Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 David L. Boren Boulevard, Norman, OK 73019, USA. hwang@ou.edu
authors: Han
authors: H
authors: Wang
authors: Jason W
authors: JW
authors: Kesinger
authors: Qingchun
authors: Q
authors: Zhou
authors: Jonathan D
authors: JD
authors: Wren
authors: George
authors: G
authors: Martin
authors: Sean
authors: S
authors: Turner
authors: Yuhong
authors: Y
authors: Tang
authors: Mark Barton
authors: MB
authors: Frank
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Centola
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D060466:Axin Protein; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism*; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D053263:Gene Regulatory Networks; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D010802:Phylogeny; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D060466:Axin Protein; D005136:Eye Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins