Abstract
Background Math6/atoh8, a bHLH transcription factor, is thought to be indispensable for early embryonic development and likely has important roles in vertebrate tissue-specific differentiation. However, the function of Atoh8 during early development is not clear because homozygous knockout causes embryonic lethality in mice. We have examined the effects of the atoh8 gene on the differentiation of retina and skeletal muscle during early development in zebrafish.ResultsWe isolated a Math6 homologue in zebrafish, designated as zebrafish atoh8. Whole -mount in situ hybridization analysis showed that zebrafish atoh8 is dynamically expressed mainly in developing retina and skeletal muscle. Atoh8-MO knock-down resulted in reduced eye size with disorganization of retinal lamination. The reduction of atoh8 function also affected the arrangement of paraxial cells and differentiated muscle fibers during somite morphogenesis.ConclusionOur results show that Atoh8 is an important regulator for the development of both the retina and skeletal muscles necessary for neural retinal cell and myogenic differentiation during zebrafish embryogenesis.
Highlights
Basic helix-loop-helix genes control both the initial neuronal fate determination and subsequent neuronal differentiation/maturation during neurogenesis [1]
Previous studies have suggested that several neurogenic Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes such as Mash1, Math3 and Neurogenin facilitate neuronal fate determination, rather than the glial cell fate [2,3]
Is important for myogenic differentiation of skeletal muscle To explore the function of atoh8 in the development of muscle, we examined the expression of several skeletal muscle markers in Atoh8 knock-down embryos using whole-mount in situ hybridization
Summary
Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) genes control both the initial neuronal fate determination and subsequent neuronal differentiation/maturation during neurogenesis [1]. Previous studies have suggested that several neurogenic bHLH genes such as Mash, Math and Neurogenin facilitate neuronal fate determination, rather than the glial cell fate [2,3]. BHLH genes such as NeuroD and Math (Nex1) are expressed in differentiating neurons after neuronal fate determination. Glial cell fate specification is modulated positively by the bHLH gene Hes5 [4,6]. Mutations of these genes in neurons cause defects in terminal differentiation/maturation [3]. Math6/atoh, a bHLH transcription factor, is thought to be indispensable for early embryonic development and likely has important roles in vertebrate tissue-specific differentiation. We have examined the effects of the atoh gene on the differentiation of retina and skeletal muscle during early development in zebrafish
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