title: A living biosensor model to dynamically trace glucocorticoid transcriptional activity during development and adult life in zebrafish.
abstract: Glucocorticoids (GCs) modulate many cellular processes through the binding of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to specific responsive elements located upstream of the transcription starting site or within an intron of GC target genes. Here we describe a transgenic fish line harboring a construct with nine GC-responsive elements (GREs) upstream of a reporter (EGFP) coding sequence. Transgenic fish exhibit strong fluorescence in many known GC-responsive organs. Moreover, its enhanced sensitivity allowed the discovery of novel GC-responsive tissue compartments, such as fin, eyes, and otic vesicles. Long-term persistence of transgene expression is seen during adult stages in several organs. Pharmacological and genetic analysis demonstrates that the transgenic line is highly responsive to drug administration and molecular manipulation. Moreover, reporter expression is sensitively and dynamically modulated by the photoperiod, thus proving that these fish are an in vivo valuable platform to explore GC responsiveness to both endogenous and exogenous stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Benato
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Colletti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Tatjana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Skobo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: francesco.argenton@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Argenton
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Padua, via U. Bassi 58/B, 35131 Padua, Italy. Electronic address: luisa.dallavalle@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dalla Valle
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D015374:Biosensing Techniques; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D008954:Models, Biological; D060172:Morpholinos / Q000494:pharmacology; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D019076:Transgenes; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D060172:Morpholinos; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015735:Mifepristone; D003907:Dexamethasone
keywords: Confocal microscopy; Dexamethasone; Glucocorticoid receptor; Glucocorticoids; Reporter; Zebrafish