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Class III POU genes of zebrafish are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.

ABSTRACT: POU genes encode a family of transcription factors involved in a wide variety of cell fate decisions and in the regulation of differentiation pathways. We have searched for POU genes in the zebrafish, a popular model organism for the study of early development of vertebrates. Besides five putative pseudogenes we have identified five POU genes that are expressed during embryogenesis. Probes obtained by PCR were used to isolate full-length cDNAs. Four of the isolated genes encode proteins with class III POU domains. Analysis of genomic clones suggests that the fish genes in general do not contain introns, similar to class III genes of mammals. However, the C-termini of two of the encoded proteins vary due to facultative splicing of a short intervening sequence. These two genes show very strong similarities in their sequence. They have probably arisen by gene duplication, possibly as part of a larger scale duplication of part of the zebrafish genome. Analysis of the expression of the class III genes shows that they are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system and that they may play important roles in patterning the embryonic brain.

SUBMITTER: Spaniol P

PROVIDER: S-EPMC146339 | biostudies-other | 1996 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Class III POU genes of zebrafish are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.

Spaniol P P Bornmann C C Hauptmann G G Gerster T T

Nucleic acids research 19961201 24

POU genes encode a family of transcription factors involved in a wide variety of cell fate decisions and in the regulation of differentiation pathways. We have searched for POU genes in the zebrafish, a popular model organism for the study of early development of vertebrates. Besides five putative pseudogenes we have identified five POU genes that are expressed during embryogenesis. Probes obtained by PCR were used to isolate full-length cDNAs. Four of the isolated genes encode proteins with cla ...[more]

PMID: 9016656

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Among the Lophotrochozoa, cephalopods possess the highest degree of central nervous system (CNS) centralization and complexity. Although the anatomy of the developing cephalopod CNS has been investigated, the developmental mechanisms underlying brain development and evolution are unknown. POU genes encode key transcription factors controlling nervous system development in a range of bilaterian species, including lophotrochozoans. In this study, we investigate the expression of POU genes during early development of the pygmy squid Idiosepius notoides and make comparisons with other bilaterians to reveal whether these genes have conserved or divergent roles during CNS development in this species. RESULTS:POU2, POU3, POU4 and POU6 orthologs were identified in transcriptomes derived from developmental stages and adult brain tissue of I. notoides. All four POU gene orthologs are expressed in different spatiotemporal combinations in the early embryo. Ino-POU2 is expressed in the gills and the palliovisceral, pedal, and optic ganglia of stage 19 to 20 embryos, whereas the cerebral and palliovisceral ganglia express Ino-POU3. Ino-POU4 is expressed in the optic and palliovisceral ganglia and the arms/intrabrachial ganglia of stage 19 to 20 individuals. Ino-POU6 is expressed in the palliovisceral ganglia during early development. In stage 25 embryos expression domains include the intrabrachial ganglia (Ino-POU3) and the pedal ganglia (Ino-POU6). All four POU genes are strongly expressed in large areas of the brain of stage 24 to 26 individuals. Expression could not be detected in late prehatching embryos (approximately stage 27 to 30). CONCLUSIONS:The expression of four POU genes in unique spatiotemporal combinations during early neurogenesis and sensory organ development of I. notoides suggests that they fulfill distinct tasks during early brain development. Comparisons with other bilaterian species reveal that POU gene expression is associated with anteriormost neural structures, even between animals for which these structures are unlikely to be homologous. Within lophotrochozoans, POU3 and POU4 are the only two genes that have been comparatively investigated. Their expression patterns are broadly similar, indicating that the increased complexity of the cephalopod brain is likely due to other unknown factors.

Dataset Information

Class III POU genes of zebrafish are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.

Publications

Class III POU genes of zebrafish are predominantly expressed in the central nervous system.

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