Korzh Lab (closed down)

The main scope of interests is related to neural differentiation in zebrafish, but we are also involved through collaborations in a broad range of projects aiming to study developmental biology of zebrafish. We discovered several novel classes of genes encoding proteins involved in neural differentiation. The group analyses and manipulates cell fates in the embryonic zebrafish by a combination of experimental methods such as cell ablation, cell transplantation and microinjections of mRNA and antisense morpholino which leads either to ectopic expression or specific inhibition of proteins studied. We made a collection of the transposon-mediated enhancer-trap transgenic lines of zebrafish and established a database that contains description of these lines (ZETRAP, http://plover.imcb.a-star.edu.sg/~zetrap/ZETRAP.htm). These lines are useful tools to study the organization of the neural tube, in particular various cell types such as oligodendrocytes and interneurons. These transgenics are already widely used within a community to study left-right asymmetry of the brain, distinct cell types within lateral line, visceral organs, etc. Using these transgenics we identified organs of zebrafish that were not described previously, for example, the minute corpuscles of Stannius. This demonstrated in principle a great potential of these transgenics for analysis of zebrafish anatomy and development. We also developed an original and efficient protocol for electroporation of DNA into the neural tube of zebrafish embryos, available here.