Pbx-dependent regulation of lbx gene expression in developing zebrafish embryos
- Authors
- Lukowski, C.M., Drummond, D.L., and Waskiewicz, A.J.
- ID
- ZDB-PUB-111122-7
- Date
- 2011
- Source
- Genome 54(12): 973-85 (Journal)
- Registered Authors
- Waskiewicz, Andrew
- Keywords
- Ibx, interneuron, Pbx, hindbrain, spinal cord, transgenic
- MeSH Terms
-
- Animals
- Animals, Genetically Modified/embryology
- Animals, Genetically Modified/genetics
- Animals, Genetically Modified/metabolism
- Biomarkers
- Cloning, Molecular
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism*
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/cytology
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Embryonic Development
- Enhancer Elements, Genetic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Homeodomain Proteins/metabolism
- In Situ Hybridization/methods
- Neural Tube/cytology
- Neural Tube/embryology
- Neural Tube/metabolism
- Neurons/cytology
- Neurons/metabolism
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism*
- Rhombencephalon/cytology
- Rhombencephalon/embryology
- Rhombencephalon/metabolism
- Zebrafish/embryology
- Zebrafish/genetics*
- Zebrafish/metabolism
- Zebrafish Proteins/genetics
- Zebrafish Proteins/metabolism*
- PubMed
- 22077099 Full text @ Genome
Ladybird (Lbx) homeodomain transcription factors function in neural and muscle development—roles conserved from Drosophila to vertebrates. Lbx expression in mice specifies neural cell types, including dorsally located interneurons and association neurons, within the neural tube. Little, however, is known about the regulation of vertebrate lbx family genes. Here we describe the expression pattern of three zebrafish ladybird genes via mRNA in situ hybridization. Zebrafish lbx genes are expressed in distinct but overlapping regions within the developing neural tube, with strong expression within the hindbrain and spinal cord. The Hox family of transcription factors, in cooperation with cofactors such as Pbx and Meis, regulate hindbrain segmentation during embryogenesis. We have identified a novel regulatory interaction in which lbx1 genes are strongly downregulated in Pbx-depleted embryos. Further, we have produced a transgenic zebrafish line expressing dTomato and EGFP under the control of an lbx1b enhancer—a useful tool to acertain neuron location, migration, and morphology. Using this transgenic strain, we have identified a minimal neural lbx1b enhancer that contains key regulatory elements for expression of this transcription factor.