title: Transcriptional signature of accessory cells in the lateral line, using the Tnk1bp1:EGFP transgenic zebrafish line.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Because of the structural and molecular similarities between the two systems, the lateral line, a fish and amphibian specific sensory organ, has been widely used in zebrafish as a model to study the development/biology of neuroepithelia of the inner ear. Both organs have hair cells, which are the mechanoreceptor cells, and supporting cells providing other functions to the epithelium. In most vertebrates (excluding mammals), supporting cells comprise a pool of progenitors that replace damaged or dead hair cells. However, the lack of regenerative capacity in mammals is the single leading cause for acquired hearing disorders in humans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In an effort to understand the regenerative process of hair cells in fish, we characterized and cloned an egfp transgenic stable fish line that trapped tnks1bp1, a highly conserved gene that has been implicated in the maintenance of telomeres' length. We then used this Tg(tnks1bp1:EGFP) line in a FACsorting strategy combined with microarrays to identify new molecular markers for supporting cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We present a Tg(tnks1bp1:EGFP) stable transgenic line, which we used to establish a transcriptional profile of supporting cells in the zebrafish lateral line. Therefore we are providing a new set of markers specific for supporting cells as well as candidates for functional analysis of this important cell type. This will prove to be a valuable tool for the study of regeneration in the lateral line of zebrafish in particular and for regeneration of neuroepithelia in general.
authors.affiliation: National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. martine.behra@upr.edu
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behra
authors.forename: Viviana E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bradsher
authors.forename: Aranza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torrado
authors.forename: Abdel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elkahloun
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Idol
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheehy
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zonies
authors.forename: Lisha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Kenna M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shaw
authors.forename: Chie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Satou
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Higashijima
authors.forename: Brant M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: Shawn M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015870:Gene Expression; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005819:Genetic Markers; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D007814:Larva / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D053403:Lateral Line System / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009831:Olfactory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D059467:Transcriptome; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D035321:Telomeric Repeat Binding Protein 1; C572268:Tnks1bp1 protein, zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins