Histone H1° expression in the developing cat retina

Abstract

Histone H1° is a subtype of the non-core H1 histones located in the linker region of DNA between nucleosome cores and postulated to be involved in the regulation of gene expression. Studies in both the mouse retina and rat brain have correlated the terminal differentiation of cell types in these tissues to the expression of H1°. The expression of H1° in mouse retina occurs after light exposure suggesting that light may trigger the expression of H1°. The aims of the present research were to: (1) describe the relationship of the appearance of H1° protein immunoreactivity to the formation of cell types and layers in the cat retina; and (2) determine whether H1° may be dependent on exposure to light or on other postnatal developmental events. We find the nuclei of ganglion, amacrine, and prospective bipolar cells contain H1° immunoreactivity before birth, prior to the terminal differentiation of these cells. In the cat retina, expression of H1°occurs prior to light exposure. These results show that the expression of H1° protein is not required for the terminal differentiation of retinal cell types in the cat. Additionally, we find no requirement for light exposure prior to H1° expression. These findings are at variance with the findings in the mouse retina and are inconsistent with any cross species requirement for the expression of this histone in the terminal differentiation of cell types in the retina.