Pleiotropic effects of Sox2 during the development of the zebrafish epithalamus.
The zebrafish epithalamus is part of the diencephalon and encompasses three major components: the pineal, the parapineal and the habenular nuclei. Using sox2 knockdown, we show here that this key transcriptional regulator has pleiotropic effects during the development of these structures. Sox2 negatively regulates pineal neurogenesis. Also, Sox2 is identified as the unknown factor responsible for pineal photoreceptor prepatterning and performs this function independently of the BMP signaling. The correct levels of sox2 are critical for the functionally important asymmetrical positioning of the parapineal organ and for the migration of parapineal cells as a coherent structure. Deviations from this strict control result in defects associated with abnormal habenular laterality, which we have documented and quantified in sox2 morphants.
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Sofia
S
Pavlou
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Katy
K
Astell
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Ioannis
I
Kasioulis
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Milica
M
Gakovic
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Richard
R
Baldock
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Veronica
V
van Heyningen
Biomedical Systems Analysis Section, Medical Developmental Genetics Section, Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
Pedro
P
Coutinho
D000818:Animals; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D055495:Neurogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D010870:Pineal Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology*; D055747:SOX Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
D055747:SOX Transcription Factors; C544611:Sox2 protein, zebrafish; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted