PUBLICATION
Nr4a2 is essential for the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons during zebrafish embryogenesis
- Authors
- Luo, G.R., Chen, Y., Li, X.P., Liu, T.X., and Le, W.D.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-080722-25
- Date
- 2008
- Source
- Molecular and cellular neurosciences 39(2): 202-210 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Chen, Yi, Liu, Ting Xi
- Keywords
- nr4a2, DA progenitors, zebrafish
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Apoptosis/physiology
- Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
- Bromodeoxyuridine/metabolism
- Cell Differentiation/genetics
- Cell Differentiation/physiology*
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology*
- Dopamine/metabolism*
- Dopamine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins/metabolism
- Embryo, Nonmammalian
- Embryonic Development/genetics
- Embryonic Development/physiology*
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental/physiology
- Nerve Tissue Proteins
- Neurogenesis/genetics
- Neurogenesis/physiology*
- Neurons/physiology*
- Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 4, Group A, Member 2
- Superior Colliculi/cytology
- Transcription Factors/genetics
- Transcription Factors/physiology*
- Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/genetics
- Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase/metabolism
- Zebrafish/genetics
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- PubMed
- 18638558 Full text @ Mol. Cell Neurosci.
Citation
Luo, G.R., Chen, Y., Li, X.P., Liu, T.X., and Le, W.D. (2008) Nr4a2 is essential for the differentiation of dopaminergic neurons during zebrafish embryogenesis. Molecular and cellular neurosciences. 39(2):202-210.
Abstract
Nr4a2 is a member of the orphan nuclear receptor gene superfamily, which has been found to be critical for the development and maintenance of mesencephalic dopaminergic (DA) neurons. To uncover the molecular mechanisms by which Nr4a2 contributes to the development of DA neurons, we have applied zebrafish to study the topographic distribution of nr4a2b transcripts, as well as its correlation with neuronal progenitor marker (neurogenin 1) and DA neuron markers (tyrosine hydroxylase, TH and DA transporter, DAT) during neurogenesis. Our studies showed that although nr4a2b transcripts did not co-localize with TH and DAT transcripts in the posterior tuberculum (PT area), knockdown of Nr4a2 resulted in a significant decrease of TH(+) and DAT(+) DA neurons in the PT area, accompanied by a reduction of DA transmitter, which were partially rescued by the injection of mouse Nr4a2 mRNA. Surprisingly, the number of nr4a2b(+) cells in Nr4a2-deficient embryos was increased by 1.6 fold. These results suggest that Nr4a2 may play an important role in the differentiation and maturation rather than the survival of DA progenitors in the PT area during zebrafish early embryogenesis.
Genes / Markers
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping