title: Localization of genes encoding metallothionein-like protein (mt2 and smtb) in the brain of zebrafish.
abstract: Metallothionein (MT) is a small cysteine-rich heavy metal-binding protein involved in metal homeostasis, detoxification and free radical-scavenging. MT is ubiquitously expressed in several tissues, but its role in the central nervous system is not well understood. In this study, we identified two MT homologous genes (mt2 and smtb) in the zebrafish. Digoxigenin-in situ hybridization showed the expression of mt2 and smtb genes in the ventricular layers in the telencephalon, diencephalon, mesencephalon and rhombencephalon, most of which are cell proliferating regions in the brain of zebrafish. Cellular characteristics of MT genes expressing cells were examined by double-labelling with markers for neurons (HuC/D) and astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP and S100 protein) and cell proliferation marker (PCNA). mt2 and smtb mRNAs are expressed in neurons and not in astrocytes, and they were co-localized with PCNA. These results suggest that mt2 and smtb may play an important role in neurogenesis and neuroprotection.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Seong Lin
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Teoh
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway 47500, Selangor, Malaysia. Electronic address: ishwar@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Ishwar S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Parhar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D009418:S100 Proteins; D008668:Metallothionein
keywords: GFAP; HuC/D; Neurogenesis; Neuroprotection; Teleost