title: Characterization of transgenic zebrafish lines that express GFP in the retina, pineal gland, olfactory bulb, hatching gland, and optic tectum.
abstract: Transgenic animals are powerful tools to study gene function invivo. Here we characterize several transgenic zebrafish lines that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the control of the LCR(RH2)-RH2-1 or LCR(RH2)-RH2-2 green opsin regulatory elements. Using confocal immunomicroscopy, stereo-fluorescence microscopy, and Western blotting, we show that the Tg(LCR(RH2)-RH2-1:GFP)(pt112) and Tg(LCR(RH2)-RH2-2:GFP)(pt115) transgenic zebrafish lines express GFP in the pineal gland and certain types of photoreceptors. In addition, some of these lines also express GFP in the hatching gland, optic tectum, or olfactory bulb. Some of the expression patterns differ significantly from previously published similar transgenic fish lines, making them useful tools for studying the development of the corresponding tissues and organs. In addition, the variations of GFP expression among different lines corroborate the notion that transgenic expression is often subjected to position effect, thus emphasizing the need for careful verification of expression patterns when transgenic animal models are utilized for research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3501 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bonaffini
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zou
authors.forename: Xiaolei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsujimura
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Xiangyun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology; D017299:Rod Opsins / Q000032:analysis*; D013477:Superior Colliculi; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C513141:Crb2a protein, zebrafish; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D017299:Rod Opsins; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C095854:middle-wavelength opsin; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins